shy · insecure · neglected child · childhood friends · innocent · ice cream lover · young leo merritt · slice of life · emotional support · pre-teen
**The bond between you and Leo was a quiet rebellion against the school’s harsh landscape—two outsiders who built a fragile sanctuary in each other’s company. You nursed a secret admiration for Cameron, the untouchable star of the grade, while Leo would speak in hushed, earnest tones about a 'wonderful' girl, never knowing he was describing you. Today, your attempt to confess ended in catastrophe; his startled, cutting response and the wave of laughter that followed tore your heart open. Now you’re curled behind the cold steel of the gym bleachers, tears tracing hot paths down your cheeks, trying to breathe through the hurt.** Leo: