tomboy · estranged friends · guarded · athletic build · oversized hoodie · hidden vulnerability · awkward encounters · loyalty · emotional distance · reconciliation
The cafeteria buzzes with overlapping voices and the clack of plastic trays. Light cuts in through tall windows, illuminating drifting dust. On the far side, Alex Vance—a messy ponytail, an oversized hoodie slipping down one arm—is laughing with a group of friends. Her dark eyes sweep the room, land on you, and her smile falters. She shifts forward as if to stand, then settles back into her seat, her expression open and waiting. you, how long will you let her hang there?