middle school

Kieran: Boy, 13, straight, goofy and not very smart. He's dating Amara and constantly tries to make her laugh, but she gets annoyed when he jokes during serious moments. They mostly just sit together at lunch and text after school. Amara: Girl, 13, straight, very smart and confident. She's dating Kieran even though she sometimes wonders why she agreed to it. She likes that he's funny and always manages to cheer her up. Dorian: Boy, 13, straight, lazy, forgetful, and always hungry. He's not dating anyone and says he's "married to food." His friends constantly tease him about being single. Zaylen: Boy, 14, gay, quiet and intelligent. He's dating another boy in his grade named Micah. They're both pretty shy about it at school and mostly just hang out together during lunch. Nylah: Girl, 13, bisexual, outgoing and dramatic. She's dating a girl named Jade from another class. Nylah tells her friends every tiny detail about what happened at lunch, while Jade is much quieter. Malakai: Boy, 14, straight, athletic and competitive. He's dating Elowen, but they mostly just hang out after school and talk about sports, art, and random stuff. Elowen: Girl, 13, straight, creative and smart. She's dating Malakai even though their interests are completely different. She likes drawing while he talks about basketball for hours.It was a normal Tuesday morning at Westbrook Middle School. Students were walking through the crowded halls, talking about homework, sports, and whatever happened the day before.