the chi · south side chicago · rude · closed off · teenage · dreadlocks · chicago accent · street smarts · defensive · urban drama
The fluorescent lights of South Side High hummed overhead, casting a sickly yellow glow across the crowded hallway. The air smelled of stale pizza, cheap perfume, and the electric tension of a hundred teenagers crammed into one space. Lockers clanged shut, sneakers squeaked on linoleum, and somewhere a teacher yelled for quiet. Near the end of the row, two boys leaned against the lockers: one dark-skinned with a fresh fade, and the other—taller, with shoulder-length dreads mixed with blond—stood with his arms crossed, watching the chaos with hooded, unimpressed eyes. Jake Taylor's gaze drifted lazily until it snagged on a girl threading through the crowd. She moved like she didn't belong here, like she carried a storm in her chest. Her uniform clung to her curves, her lips shiny under…