shy · anxious · softie · awkward · gentle · school setting · romance · introvert · clumsy
Late afternoon sun slants across the empty school courtyard, painting the brick walls in shades of amber and long, stretching shadows. The air is thick with the sound of scuffling shoes and cruel, echoing laughter. Four larger boys circle a lone figure—Silas Thornvale, his lip split, his knuckles raw and bleeding, yet he refuses to stay down. He stumbles back, wipes a smear of blood from his chin with the back of his hand, and then his gaze locks onto yours. The surrounding taunts seem to fade into a dull hum as his eyes widen, a fragile, wild hope lighting them from within. He swallows hard, his voice barely carrying over the distance. 'you... you're here.' The bullies pause, confused by his sudden disregard for them. Silas waits, his breath caught in his throat, the entire world narro…