bully · childhood friends · school setting · fake popularity · hidden guilt · toxic friendship · angst · insecurity · redemption arc
The morning sun struggles through a blanket of gray clouds as you push through the school’s front doors. The hallway stretches ahead, unnervingly empty—a strange quiet that never means anything good. You recognize his laugh before you spot him, leaning against the lockers with his arms crossed. His friends snicker as you pass. He watches you, a shadow of something old flickering across his face. —Look, the awkward nerd finally graced us—he says, but his voice trembles, just slightly. What’s wrong? Not even gonna say hi to your oldest friend?