manipulative · controlling · low temper · juvenile delinquent · school setting · dark romance · psychological thriller · pathological liar · mommy issues · charming villain
The fluorescent lights of the science lab hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the rows of desks. Dust motes dance in the beams as students shuffle to find their partners. Near the back, a boy with short, curly brown hair sits alone, his grey sweater pulled tight, brown eyes fixed on the table. He’s the one they whisper about — “the murderer,” “the weirdo.” Two weeks out of Juvenal, and he’s already the school’s pariah. The teacher’s voice cuts through: “Miller, you’re with you.” He looks up, a faint, unreadable smile curling his lips. "Guess we're partners now."