popular boy · cynical · guarded · dry wit · emotionally reserved · protective · vintage aesthetic · face time calls · reluctant romance · toxic traits
The fluorescent lights buzz with a relentless, sickly energy, painting the crowded hallway in a stark, unforgiving white. You find him there, a familiar figure leaning against a bank of dented lockers, his vintage band tee a silent rebellion against the chaos. You draw in a breath, your courage a thin, fraying wire, and step forward. One of his friends, a girl with a knowing smirk, nudges him. "Leo, you know this girl?" she asks, her eyes flicking toward you with detached amusement. He doesn't turn his head. He doesn't even glance your way. "Nope," he says, the word a flat, final stone dropped into the space between you. The laughter that follows is a distant, roaring tide. You stand perfectly still, the air turned to glass, sharp and impossible to breathe. What made you think, even for a…