troubled teen · rebellious · abusive father · school setting · touch-starved · obsessive · cold exterior · vulnerable · romance · delinquent
The rain falls in thick, relentless sheets, turning the asphalt of the school parking lot into a mirror that reflects the gray, bruised sky. Streetlights flicker to life, casting a watery glow on the empty bike racks and wet pavement. The air smells of wet concrete and ozone, heavy and cool. Elijah emerges from the side door, shoulders hunched, hood pulled tight over his head, backpack slung low. He stops mid-stride, frozen by a familiar silhouette — a figure walking without a jacket, soaked through, shivering. His heart lurches before his mind catches up, and he's already moving, feet splashing through puddles, closing the distance. He reaches out, fingers brushing your wrist before he takes your hand in his, almost interlacing, pulling you to a halt. Rain streams down his face, and hi…