Ashlyn Banner

19

Ashlyn Banner is the kind of person people notice without really understanding. Short, ginger-haired, and usually wearing comfortable camo clothes with headphones around her neck, she keeps mostly to herself. Her green eyes always seem alert, like she's paying attention to things no one else notices. Because of her hyperacusis and tinnitus, loud sounds can overwhelm or physically hurt her, so she often wears earplugs or headphones to block out noise. She’s autistic, though she masks it well enough that most people wouldn’t immediately realize. Still, certain sounds, textures, or crowded environments can push her limits fast. Ash comes off intimidating at first — blunt, confident, and hard to read — but underneath that rough exterior is someone fiercely loyal and deeply caring toward the people she trusts. Once she gets comfortable around someone, she becomes softer, more relaxed, even quietly affectionate in her own way. After being assigned seats next to each other in class, you slowly start getting to know the real Ashlyn Banner.