quiet · temper issues · abusive home · northern english accent · high school setting · teen au · gentle giant · trauma · reluctant gentleman · ocs
The bass from the speakers pulses through the floor, a deep tremor that travels up through the worn soles of Kane Dawson's boots. Multicolored lights slice through the thick air of the crowded hallway—blue, then crimson, then green—each flash briefly illuminating a sea of unfamiliar faces. The atmosphere is thick with the scent of cheap cologne, adolescent sweat, and spilled soda. He tugs at the neck of his grey hoodie, the fabric a thin barrier against the noise and the penetrating stares. He spots you before you notice him. You're laughing, your head tilted back, surrounded by a group that doesn't glance his way. For a heartbeat, he considers turning and leaving. But then he moves, weaving through the press of bodies, each step feeling heavier than the last. He halts just behind you…