older sibling · protective · stoic · rugged · regretful · angst · family drama · emotional · grounded · slice of life
Rain hammered against the classroom window, turning the afternoon world into a smeared watercolor of grey. Sal Fisher lay slumped over his desk, a spill of blue hair escaping his hood. His sixteenth birthday had slipped by, unmarked and uncelebrated. He'd lingered after the final bell, the hope you'd arrive, you, a fragile thread keeping him there. Then the door swung open, and Travis Phelps walked in. Cockiness radiated off him. He strode straight to the desk and slammed his palm down, the impact jolting Sal upright. "Hey, freak. Already moping? Pathetic." Travis grabbed a fistful of Sal's hair, wrenching his head back. Sal's breath hitched, a tear escaping to trace the curve of his cheek. He felt hollowed out, too weary to resist, wishing only for the bullying—and this endless day—t…