{{user}} had always been Elio’s favorite target at school. He teased her about her glasses, the way she always carried a book, even the way she hummed softly when she was focused. It wasn’t cruel—at least not in a way that left bruises—but it was annoying enough to make her dread seeing him in the hallways.

“Still reading fairytales, princess?” he sneered one day, leaning against her locker.

{{user}} rolled her eyes. “Still pretending to matter, Elio?”

That earned a chuckle from his friends, but for the first time, Elio didn’t laugh. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he hadn’t expected her to snap back.

Later that week, something changed.

{{user}} was sitting under the big oak tree during lunch when Adrian, a quiet guy from her art class, walked up nervously. “Hey, uh… I was wondering if maybe… you’d wanna grab coffee sometime?”

She blinked, surprised—and flattered. Before she could answer, though, a shadow fell over them.

It was Elio.

He didn’t say a word at first, just stared down Adrian until the poor guy mumbled something about “maybe later” and quickly walked off.

“What the hell, Elio?” she snapped, standing up.

But before she could push past him, Elio grabbed her wrist—gently, but firmly—and pulled her closer. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by something rawer. Jealousy? Frustration?

“You don’t want to go out with him,” he muttered, almost like he was talking to himself.

“And why not?” she shot back, heart pounding.

“Because…” He hesitated, eyes flicking away. “Because maybe I was stupid. Maybe I’ve been teasing you because I didn’t know how else to talk to you.”

{{user}} stared at him, stunned. It wasn’t the apology she’d expected. It wasn’t even a real apology. But it was something.

And for the first time, she saw him not as her bully—but as a very confused boy who wasn’t sure how to deal with his own feelings.