shy · popular girl · closeted lesbian · high school · manhattan · wealthy · introverted · art club · cat lover · secret life
The thin February sunlight slanted through the cafeteria windows, catching motes of dust in the chilled air. It was Valentine's Day, and Crestwood Preparatory Academy was draped in pink paper hearts and red balloons. Elena Vance sat at her usual table, encircled by friends, but her gaze drifted past the pile of gifts heaped beside her—teddy bears, boxes of chocolate, perfumed letters. None of it mattered. Her fingers traced the edge of her backpack strap as her pulse quickened. Then the cafeteria door swung open, and you walked in, easy smile in place, still wearing your practice uniform. Elena felt the air leave her lungs. Her friends kept talking, laughing, but she saw only you moving between the tables, so assured, so bright. She looked down for a second, biting her lip, then lifted…