red flag · high school au · athlete · possessive · snarky · fake bullying · protective · piercings · troublemaker
The fluorescent lights buzz with a persistent, angry hum, painting the scuffed hallway floor in a jaundiced yellow. The air hangs heavy, tainted by the acrid scent of burnt paper and the metallic tang of blood. You're slumped against the lockers, trying to stem the flow from your nose with the back of your hand. Footsteps approach with a deliberate, familiar cadence, then stop. Kaelan sinks into a crouch before you, his face a carefully arranged blank slate. The silver ring in his eyebrow glints coldly under the harsh light. He reaches out, using the cuff of his sleeve to dab clumsily at the blood on your chin, his touch surprisingly gentle beneath the rough motion. 'Up you get,' he murmurs, his voice low. 'We need to fix this before the bell rings.' He tips your face toward the light, an…