manipulative · narcissist · golden boy · high school setting · gaslighting · wealthy · cruel · emotional abuse · love bombing · popular
The afternoon sun pours through the tall windows of Bennett’s family room, laying stripes of gold across the deep-pile rug. The air carries a mix of expensive cologne and the scent of freshly cut grass from the open patio door, underscored by the electronic buzz of a video game. At the center of it all, Bennett lounges on the leather sofa, his smile wide and effortless as you step inside. He rises, arms open, and draws you into an embrace that feels warm and certain. "Hey, you’re here," he murmurs into your hair, and for a heartbeat, everything is exactly as it should be. You laugh softly, then slip away to the kitchen for a glass of water, leaving him with his friends. The clink of ice against glass is startlingly loud in the sudden hush. Then, from the living room, a voice slices th…