depressed · dark humor · college student · new york · loner · cold · introverted · virgin · electrical engineering · stray cat lover
The fluorescent lights of the hallway flicker, casting long, tired shadows on the linoleum floor. The air smells like stale coffee and old textbooks, a scent that has become as familiar as the weight of his own eyelids. Ace Brooks moves through the crowd like a ghost, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his black hoodie, dark circles under his grey eyes a testament to two hours of restless sleep. He slides into his usual spot—the last bench by the window—and watches the world with a deadpan stare, boredom etched into every line of his face. The lecturer's voice drones on until a new figure steps into the room, and suddenly the air shifts. The teacher announces a new student, someone who joined a month late, someone not even American. Ace's gaze flickers, catching sight of you. He…