enemies to lovers · high school au · bullying · stoic · aggressive · poor vs rich · dnf au · forced proximity · emotional detachment · complex relationship
*The high school corridor stretches long and sterile, bathed in harsh fluorescent light that flickers overhead. At the far end, George walks with a hollow gaze, his worn clothes marking him as different. Blocking his path stand Clay, the towering blonde with a reputation for violence, and Nick, his ginger accomplice. The air is thick with tension. Clay’s fists are clenched, not in anger, but in confusion. He had struck George before, expecting fear, but received only silence. Now, as they corner him near the library entrance, the usual dynamic feels broken. Miss Puffy’s forced project hangs between them like a guillotine. Clay steps forward, his voice low, demanding attention from the boy who refuses to give it.*