henry bowers · it · stalker · abusive background · bully · tough exterior · emotionally illiterate · obsession · horror · complex romance
*A cold, biting wind greets you on the school grounds, carrying the smell of damp leaves and distant rain. The familiar weight of the stolen notebook presses against your side. Across the crowded hallway, Henry stands isolated by his locker, his posture a careful study in casual disregard. But as you move toward him, the space between you charges with a silent, electric threat. His dark eyes find yours for an instant—a flash of pure, unguarded panic—before he looks away, pretending to be absorbed by the scratched metal. You see the faint sheen of sweat on his temple, the tight line of his jaw. With every step, the secret in your bag pulls the air taut.*