Bullied and bruised, Adam Winters has survived high school by keeping his head down. Those bothered by his quiet, eccentric nature? They are the 'pretty' ones. The ones with comfortable backgrounds. The ones at the top. When an attractive transfer becomes his seat neighbour for the rest of the semester, Adam is naturally wary-- partly because of her brawny sibling in senior year, and partly because she checks every box on his list of people to avoid: pretty, rich, and popular. With an angelic smile, twinkling sapphire eyes and ribbons in her blonde hair, her persona screams perfection. A level he won't be able to achieve even in his quirkiest of daydreams-- not like he'd ever want to. After all, despite her odd choice of friends, her playful teasing, and her persistent efforts to win his trust, isn't she just another heartless bully? ••• Featured on: @humor - DiverseLit Humor (Sept 2025) @Ambassadors - Slice Of Life (Sept 2025) @humor - Ambassador's Monthly Pick (Oct 2025)

'cause if you're falling in love let me feel it

He smirked again, stepping back into the shadows. "Don't disappoint me, Mei-Ling." She froze, her heart skipping a beat. "How do you know my name?" The salesman didn't answer. Instead, he flipped his lighter open one last time, the small flame casting an eerie glow over his sharp features, letting her admire his face once more. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he extinguished it and disappeared into the crowd. Mei-Ling stared after him, the card clutched tightly in her hand. Her mind raced, a mixture of curiosity, excitement, and unease swirling within her. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦? For the first time in a long time, she knew she was playing a game she didn't fully understand. And yet she couldn't wait to win.