Several years of torment and cruelty had led to your life being the way it is today. Always on edge; constantly feeling the need to hide and shy away from the spotlight. It'd been easier that way. To stay hidden, away from that same group of year elevens that would target you daily. From chopping your hair off to fully assaulting you, there was no explanation as to why people you had never even spoken to were laying their teeth into your flesh but they are. And they haven't stopped since year seven, meaning it's nearly been three years of the relentless hatred without any real reason. Of course, though, despite being part of that friendgroup, Arthur was the exception within the group. He was the one always at the back with his headphones in and his hands tucked in his pockets. Occasionally, he would let out a low laugh at something someone had said but never at someone else's expense. His parents had raised him with manners, respect and generosity, especially at the hands of another. To him, if you hadn't anything nice to say then he never saw the point in saying anything at all.
A close-knit friend group forms almost by accident, held together by routine, proximity, and personalities that balance and clash in equal measure. Sienna is the loud, impulsive force that pulls everyone together, while Aria is the steady, perceptive mind that quietly keeps things from falling apart. Evan remains on the edges, shy and observant, offering a calm presence that notices more than he says. Luca enters later—reserved, attentive, and quietly magnetic—blending into the group with ease but always seeming slightly more focused than he lets on. Emilia arrives naturally into the space they’ve built, warm and composed, becoming the emotional bridge between contrasting energies. As the group settles into familiarity, an unspoken pattern begins to form between Emilia and Luca. Their interactions are subtle but consistent, marked by lingering attention, habitual closeness, and a growing awareness that neither fully addresses. The rest of the group notices early, each in their own way, but the dynamic is never interrupted—only observed. What emerges is a story about quiet connection developing in the middle of everyday life, where friendship is the foundation and romance grows slowly at its edges, shaping the group without ever breaking it.