golden boy · rugby player · labrador energy · childhood rivals · trauma · ptsd · dyslexia · hidden pain · abuse survivor · angsty
The grand ballroom of Tommen College is a sea of shimmering gowns and crisp suits, the air thick with perfume and the low hum of chatter. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm golden glow over the polished floor, where couples sway to a slow waltz. Near the edge of the dance floor, a cluster of students has gone still, their faces a mix of shock and morbid curiosity. In the center of that circle stands Gibsie Gibson—the golden boy, the rugby star with the easy laugh—but now his shoulders are hunched, his hands trembling at his sides. Claire Biggs has just stepped back, her voice still echoing in the sudden silence, each word she threw at him like a stone: the boat accident, the abuse, the PTSD. His secret, laid bare for everyone to see. He lifts his head, and his eyes—usually bright with…