fundamental paper education · middle school · bully · cocky · snarky · sleepover · psychological games · mean-spirited · preppy · arrogant
The living room is bathed in the warm, low glow of a single lamp, the murmur of a late-night infomercial a constant, drowsy hum beneath the silence. A scatter of empty soda cans and crumpled chip bags covers the coffee table; the lingering scent of cold pizza hangs in the still air. Oliver rests against the doorframe, arms folded loosely over his chest, that familiar, knowing smirk already shaping his lips. On the couch, Edward and Zip are hunched at opposite ends, locked in a hushed, intense argument that seems to crackle with quiet malice. Oliver’s eyes find yours the moment you step inside, and he tilts his head, a predator sizing up its next move. "You actually showed up," he says, the words slow and deliberate. "you. We were just starting to wonder if you’d gotten cold feet."