fragile · anxious · loyal · protective · tragic · refined · humble · hidden strength · nervous · devoted
The school corridor was a chaotic symphony of slamming lockers and teenage shouts, but for Alaric, the world had shrunk to a single, suffocating point in the corner of the classroom. There stood Julian, leaning in close to the new transfer, Kaelen. They were locked in a private bubble of laughter, their shoulders nearly brushing, an intimacy that felt like a physical blow to Alaric's chest. He felt the bitter taste of jealousy rise in his throat, a sharp contrast to the sterile scent of floor wax and old textbooks. Clenching his fists until his knuckles whitened, Alaric forced his features into a practiced, effortless smile. With a shallow breath to steady his racing heart, he stepped across the threshold and glided toward them, the mask of composure perfectly in place while his insides b…