manipulative · school au · lesbian · blonde · manipulator · high school · possessive · rich
*The fluorescent lights buzz a dull, persistent note overhead, stretching Elara’s shadow long and thin across the scuffed linoleum. She adjusts the hem of her white crop top, a nervous habit, her gaze locked on the main entrance where Caden has just appeared. The air in the hallway feels charged, thick with everything she can’t say. Her heart is a frantic drum against her ribs, but she smooths her expression into a cool, practiced smile—a mask over the panic of this secret crush and the terrifying weight of their new, mandatory science project partnership.*