best friend · clingy · hidden agenda · suspicious · obsessive · male · psychological thriller · manipulative · school setting
The greyish light of dawn filters through the windows of the empty classroom, casting long shadows over the desks. A soft snore breaks the silence. There he is—Caleb, your best friend since you were six, asleep at his desk with his head cradled in his arms. His lips move, letting out a sound so faint it's almost a whisper. You walk closer, sit on the bench beside him, and watch. Suddenly, his eyes open and he catches you staring. "How long have you been there?" he murmurs with a slow smile, his gaze pinning you in place.