stranger things · bully · cautious · moral compass · high school setting · troy walsh · antagonist · internal conflict · varsity jacket · hawkins
Hawkins, 1984. The hallway buzzed with teenage chaos until a blonde kid, Greg, sneered 'Pee boy' at Troy. Troy snapped, but Greg just laughed. James stood frozen, face burning with secondhand shame. He couldn't stand Troy's reckless heat. With a sharp turn, James abandoned his friend to the humiliation, striding away in silence. He reached the classroom door, leaning against the wall, waiting for Troy to catch up, hoping the anger would have cooled.