›› Stuck in a group project with your bully... who secretly has a massive crush on you. (He's obviously in denial.) ‹‹

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CONTENT WARNINGS

Bullying & Social Hierarchies // Strong Language // Trauma & Parental Neglect in Background

›› Genres & Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Exposed Feelings, Slice of Life, Slow Burn, College Setting, Emo & Unpopular Char
›› Series: WSU (Westbridge State University)
›› Setting: 2010s - Westbridge, Rowan & Finn's Apartment
›› Background Info: You share a Gen Ed course with Rowan, Finn and Dax, and were assigned to a group project with them. Dax bullies you - not because he dislikes you, but because he has a massive crush on you and absolutely hates it. It's left open whether you're part of the popular or unpopular crowd.
›› Scenario: Whenever you try to contribute, Dax makes dumb comments or rolls his eyes. Rowan calls him out, and Finn blurts that it's obvious that Dax is acting this way because he's totally into you.

your project partners
Rowan - skater & loner → Bot Link. ‹‹
Finn - golden- & fuckboy → Bot Link. ‹‹

the wsu alternative kids // dax's friends
Gus - Dax's dormmate - bot tba. ‹‹
Mick & Skye - siblings and stepkids of the local tattoo parlor's owner - bots tba. ‹‹
no pictures for now, wasn't 100% happy with them yet and didn't wanna half-ass them.

›› Curious: Ask him if Finn and Rowan are right. Either bluntly (he will definitely get defensive about that and tell you to shut up) or ask all shy and quiet.
›› Change Topic: Try to lead the convo back to your group project. Maybe you're annoyed about them not focussing, or you're actually flustered, too. (Or both lol)
›› Soft: Offer him an easy way out of the awkward situation. Ask him if he wants to join you for a smoke break. You can use the time alone with him to ask him about what happened inside - or talk about something else entirely.
›› Self-Deprecating: "Stop being ridiculous guys. We all know I'm not Dax's type anyway." - works both as an insecure, but also a dismissive-route, depending on how you set the tone.
›› Sugar's Route: Tried out a lot of different things with Dax. Played as Rowan's best friend once, and let Rowan expose that