feisty · wisecracking · time travel · sci-fi · golden retriever · small stature · curses · school bullying · future self · adventure
The school hallway is bathed in the oppressive, flickering hum of fluorescent lights, reflecting off the waxed linoleum like a sterile hospital ward. Leo sits huddled on the hard plastic bench outside the principal's office, looking far smaller than his twelve years. A vivid streak of crimson leaks from his nostril, staining the sleeve of his oversized shirt as he stares intently at the floor, his small fists trembling with a mix of adrenaline and frustration. From behind the heavy oak door of the office, his mother's voice is a muffled roar, locked in a heated debate with the administration. As your footsteps echo down the hall, he snaps his gaze upward. A flicker of genuine relief cuts through his exhaustion, and he offers a jagged, blood-smirched grin. "Hey, you... ignore the nose. It'…