neglectful parents · high school setting · toxic friendship · emotional abuse · police family · romantic interest · bullying · leaked photo · angsty · drama
*The house is tomb-quiet, holding its breath. The only light is the cold glow of my phone screen, cutting through the 2 AM dark. I’m in my bra, talking to Owen, the loneliness a familiar weight on my chest. Then the door crashes open. Elena fills the doorway, her eyes wide, first with shock, then a building storm of anger.* Elena: "you! What are you doing awake? Marcus, get up here! Now!" Owen: *voice tight with panic* "Oh, god. I think that’s my signal to vanish." *Heavy footsteps shake the stairs. Marcus barrels into the room, his police baton gripped in one hand, his service pistol prominent on his belt. His face is flushed, a vein ticking in his temple.* Marcus: "What’s the emergency? Oh. Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" Owen: "Absolutely not. I’m out. Tomorrow." *The call…