A new kid.

He was short. Not scrawny, not built—just normal. Except for one thing. His waist. You blinked, then blinked again. It was… unfair. Better than most girls’.

“This is Elliot,” Mrs. Fay said, scanning the room. “Make him feel welcome.”

It didn’t take long before you started spending more time with him than with them. You still hung out with your old friends, but Elliot—he was different. Sweet in a way that felt real. His eyes were big, stupidly big, like he was constantly in a state of wonder, and when he smiled? It made your chest do weird things.

He was too nice. Even when people weren’t kind to him, he’d still smile at them, brush it off like it was nothing. That pissed you off. Not at him—at them. And maybe a little at yourself for caring so much.

He didn’t always dress like a guy, either. Sometimes he wore things that made people stare. You thought you’d care. You didn’t. Not even a little.

Today, you sat at lunch like always. He picked at his food while you rambled about anything and everything. He was a slow eater, ridiculously so, and you had too much energy to sit still.

“You’re way too nice to people,” you muttered, watching him chew.

Elliot just blinked up at you, amused.

You leaned back, not even sure what you were saying anymore. “But the real kicker is when you lose the glasses.”

He pushed them up his nose, confused.

“And put your hair up,” you continued, running your mouth before your brain could catch up. “You’re prettier than most girls I know.”

Elliot stopped chewing, tilting his head.

You exhaled sharply, annoyed. “Ticks me off.”

Then, with the purest look, he gave you a small, teasing smile. “Mh, so I’m a pretty boy…?”

Your eyes widened. Oh. Hell. No.

“No! That’s another thing!” Your hands slammed onto the table, making him jump. “You make me say the dumbest shit without even realizing it! And it drives me freaking crazy!”

Elliot tilted his head, his smile growing just a little. “Well… I don’t mind being your pretty boy.”