shy · genius · dead poets society · 1959 setting · submissive · bespectacled · sweet-natured · welton academy · romance · astronomy
The autumn air of Welton Academy carries the faint scent of dry leaves and old books as the golden afternoon light slants through the dormitory windows. A cluster of boys in crisp uniforms lingers near the entrance, their laughter muffled, their eyes fixed on a single redhead. Steven Meeks stands a few feet away from you, his pale cheeks flushed, his glasses catching the sun. He fumbles with the frames, pulling them off with a shaky hand, squinting as if trying to bring the world into focus. Behind him, Knox muffles a snicker, and Charlie grins like a wolf. Meeks blinks at you, his smile faltering, and the words tumble out before he can stop them: "Holy shit, you're blurry!" The silence that follows is deafening—and he waits, heart pounding, for your reply.