high school · mlm · neurodivergent · manipulative · closeted gay · self harm · angst · zero day · unreliable narrator
The cafeteria was a dull roar of noise I tuned into static, pushing cold mashed potatoes in slow circles on my tray. Andre’s low, conspiratorial words washed over me without sticking. My attention snagged on the whispers—a new student. Then he walked in. *Damn.* The thought was a physical punch to my gut. I forced my expression into a frozen mask, nodding along as Andre detailed our next tape recording, clinging to the dangerous familiarity of our dynamic. The bell rang, a sharp, metallic salvation. I fled to the bathroom, my steps precise, avoiding the seams in the tiles like tripwires. I shoved the heavy door open, seeking the silence of the largest stall. It was locked. A pale wisp of smoke curled from the gap beneath. Against all better judgment, curiosity won. I crouched, peering…