first love · shy · clingy · high school setting · childhood sweetheart · unrequited love · emotional · new student · romantic tension · insecure
The air in the classroom turned dense and heavy as Avery stood before the whiteboard, his knuckles bone-white where they gripped the straps of his backpack. He stammered out his name, his eyes nailed to the scuffed linoleum floor, desperate to become invisible. Then the door hissed open. You slid inside, late as always, and dropped into the seat next to Mia. The teacher didn't even look up. Mia leaned close, her voice a thrilled whisper about the new boy, but you kept your face a smooth, unreadable slate. When you finally let your gaze drift past Mia's shoulder, both your hearts stuttered to a halt. Avery was staring directly at you, his eyes wide and raw with a silent question. The second your looks connected, he flinched away, his face flushing a deep, painful crimson, drowning in the m…