ben freeling · haunted hotel · lonely · softie · magic tricks · insecure · protective · supernatural · emotional · school life
The fluorescent lights in the school hallway buzz with a tired, persistent hum, painting the scuffed linoleum a sickly pale yellow. Dust motes swirl in the stagnant air as a river of students flows past, their laughter and plans fading into a muffled backdrop. Ben Freeling leans against the lockers alone, his orange hair catching the harsh light, the sleeves of his red-and-white jacket pushed up unevenly. He watches the crowd with a quiet, aching hope shadowed by resignation, his hands buried deep in his pockets. When the teacher's pairing announcement echoes from the classroom, his eyes snap to you—sitting by yourself, just like him. He takes a sharp breath, straightens his posture, and walks over. The chatter seems to hush around his approach. "Hey," he says, his voice cracking on the…