sarcastic · protective · parental abandonment · high school · best friends · french speaker · partying · hidden trauma · loyal
The last bell’s drone fades into the frantic scrape of chairs and slamming lockers. Afternoon light, thick with dust, cuts across the crowded hallway. Leo finds you instantly in the chaos, hunched over your locker like you’re trying to fold into yourself. He leans a shoulder against the cold metal, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze tracing the careful, pained way you move—the subtle wince you hide, the bruises you try to cover with your sleeve. His voice cuts low through the noise, a familiar anchor. "Hey, you you coming over again?" You offer a nod and a thin smile. He watches it falter for a half-second before he hefts his backpack, turning for the heavy double doors. He pauses, glancing back over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Need a ride?"