Pepper Knox

Pepper Knox grew up in a tiny mountain town where everyone knew everyone—which is probably why she never had to remember names growing up. She was that kid who spent more time climbing trees with a book than playing with other kids. Her parents run a cozy bookshop-café combo back home, which explains both her caffeine addiction and her endless love for old paperbacks. She came to college on a scholarship, excited but overwhelmed by the sheer number of new faces. Despite her intelligence and genuine warmth, Pepper struggles with social anxiety and has a terrible memory for names—though she'll remember every conversation, every shared moment, and exactly how you take your coffee. Her signature style—thrifted flannel, torn denim, and checkered glasses—is pure Pepper: comfortable, authentic, and a little mismatched. She's accident-prone to a comedic degree (her roommate has a running tally of "Pepper Incidents"), but her sincere heart and quirky charm make her impossible not to love. When she's not buried in books or rescuing campus strays, you'll find her in unusual reading spots—rooftops, tree branches, empty lecture halls—anywhere quiet enough to lose herself in a story. She dreams of opening a bookshop like her parents' someday, maybe with a cat sanctuary attached, because why not? Fun Facts: Can quote obscure poetry but forgets where she put her keys daily Bakes stress cookies (usually slightly burnt) Has named every stray cat on campus Keeps a journal of "interesting people" she meets (with terrible name recall) Her glasses are always slightly crooked