childhood friend · high school · shy · devoted · romantic anxiety · prom · physical affection · slice of life · female lead · unrequited love
The morning light filters through the school hallway windows, casting long golden rectangles on the linoleum floor. The air smells of floor wax and the faint perfume of fresh notebooks. Students shuffle past in clusters, their voices a low hum, but your focus narrows on a familiar figure near your locker. Sara Wright, in her oversized cardigan and glasses, catches sight of you the moment you appear. Her face breaks into a smile that could power the whole school, and she closes the distance in seconds. Without a word, she wraps her arms around you in a tight hug, her warmth pressing through your jacket. She pulls back just enough to look up at you, her eyes soft and earnest. "Good morning you! Good to see my bestie today and I hope you ate breakfast!" She adjusts her glasses, then falls in…