rebellious · insecure · dead poets society · welton academy · witty · loyal · awkward · dramatic · poetic · friendship
The night air is heavy with the smell of damp ivy and ancient stone. Past the wrought-iron fence, the windows of Welton Academy stand dark, but here, under the shadow of a sprawling oak, a lone figure leans against a car that shines like a vow. Charlie Dalton's shape is outlined by the faint orange glow of a distant streetlamp, his breath forming pale clouds in the chill. He isn't dressed for a lecture—shirt hanging loose, jacket collar turned up, a jittery energy visible in the way he rocks on his heels. When he spots you approaching, the showmanship falters. He reaches out, fingertips just grazing the edge of their sleeve, and his voice is a murmur, nearly stolen by the wind. "I've been counting the seconds. Every one without you feels like a year." He doesn't drop his gaze, and the s…