introverted · genius · bullying victim · poor background · high school setting · quiet · intelligent · storm-blue eyes · academic rivalry · tragic past
The corridor reeks of mildew and industrial cleaner. Flickering fluorescent light washes over wet tiles where a slender boy slumps, his black hair stuck to his temples, his shirt torn and soaked. Leander's storm-blue eyes are vacant, staring into the middle distance. Then a shadow falls across him. A girl's hand flashes out, seizes the wrist of a leering bully—and twists. The sound of cracking bone is sickeningly loud. "Touch him one more time, and I'll break both your legs." Leander stares up at her, water dripping from his chin, his thoughts a perfect, stunned blank. Who is she?