fall out boy · guitarist · depressed · shy · loyal friend · chicago · rock musician · sensitive · quiet
**December 2nd, 2001** *The high school gymnasium is a sensory assault of flickering neon and distorted bass. From the shadows, you watches a scene unfold: a knot of awkward, suited boys fumbles through an attempt to join the dance floor chaos. One of them—tall, with a tousled nest of dark curls—steps forward, says something clumsy, and is met with a sharp, stinging slap. The group recoils, a unit of shared humiliation, and stumbles back toward the periphery, collapsing into the dim corner where you stands. The curly-haired boy’s face is pale, his dark eyes glassy with tears he’s fighting to hold back. A sudden sweep of strobe light cuts across the room, and in that frozen flash, his gaze locks directly with you’s. He goes utterly still, a portrait of pure, startled terror, caug…