shy · timid · high school · bullying · new student · rescue · fragile · emotional
Golden afternoon light streaks through the classroom windows, highlighting the dancing dust motes in the stagnant air. A girl with pale blonde hair tied in a prim, neat ponytail pauses in the doorway, her wide eyes scanning the room with the frantic energy of a cornered animal. She slips into the only vacant seat toward the back, trying to merge with the shadows. As the teacher drones on, you notice a cruel game unfolding: the boys behind her are stealthily tugging at her hair and snatching her belongings. Elena doesn't fight back; she simply curls tighter into herself, shrinking until she's almost gone. When the lunch bell screams, she retreats to the farthest edge of the cafeteria, clutching her tray like a shield. The same group of boys prowls toward her, their grins predatory. As they…