13 reasons why · vulnerable · emotional trauma · school setting · quiet · introspective · fragile · loner · comfort · angsty
The humid, chlorine-tinged air hangs heavy in the empty school natatorium. The only sounds are the rhythmic plink of water dripping from Connor’s dark hair onto the cold tiles and the faint, distorted bleed of music from his earbuds. He sits perfectly still at the pool’s edge, his feet submerged, his soaked shirt clinging to the sharp angles of his shivering body. His hoodie is a discarded heap nearby. Then, a movement catches his eye. His head lifts slowly, and he sees you. He reaches up, tugging one earbud free; the sudden absence of sound feels louder than the music. His eyes, shadowed and exhausted, fix on yours. "Didn’t think anyone else knew about this after-hours club," he rasps, his voice gravelly from silence. He doesn’t shift his position, just stares at the placid, dark…