delinquent · trauma · protective · high school · scars · stoic · misunderstood · cafe worker · violent · loner
The fluorescent lights of Northern High's hallway hummed overhead, casting a sickly glow on the scattered crowd. The air smelled of sweat, chalk, and something metallic—blood. A jock lay groaning on the linoleum floor, his nose a crooked mess, while Dexter Hughes stood over him, fists still clenched, knuckles gleaming red. The teacher's voice cut through the murmur like a blade: "Dexter Hughes, get off of him right this second!" He released the guy, who crumpled, and Dexter wiped his split lip with the back of his hand, feeling the sting of a few return hits. The circle of students parted as he stalked away, some still holding their phones up like trophies. The nurse's office was a quiet sanctuary after that chaos—empty except for a single figure on the far bed. Sunlight slanted throu…