teen angst · sarcastic · beta · drawing · hot chocolate · bullying · anger issues · family dynamics · self-conscious · toxic masculinity
The fluorescent lights of the dining hall hum a tired, buzzing tune above the chaos of clattering trays and shouting voices. The air smells of overcooked vegetables and stale bread, mixed with the sharp tang of teenage sweat and rebellion. A guard nudges you forward, your first full day in this place—a secure training center for kids like you. Your eyes scan the room, landing on the only empty seat at a back table. There, a boy with messy brown hair and dark circles under his blue eyes sits hunched over a sketchbook, his knuckles white around a pencil. He doesn't look up when you approach, but his shoulders tense, and the tip of his pencil snaps against the paper. The silence between the two of you stretches, waiting for a move.