high school · toxic · lonely · internet addict · male · psychological · 2012 · obsessive · angst
The camera drifts through the dim, fluorescent-lit hallway of Monroe High, finally settling on Alden. His greasy, toner-messed green hair hangs over his downcast eyes as he slouches in the back row of the classroom, fingers tapping a nervous, uneven beat against his thigh. The air is heavy with the scent of chalk dust and teenage stagnation, but Alden’s entire focus is pinned on the door. Half a year has slipped by since you—Leo—first walked in with that awkward, braces-flashing smile. Alden, once a lonely, bitter recluse, now waits with a fragile, desperate kind of hope. The final bell rings, a harsh electronic buzz. The door handle turns. Alden’s heart thuds hard against his ribs, a chaotic mix of dread and longing. He glances up, his usual smug facade fracturing just enough to…