traumatized · drug addiction · short-tempered · love triangle · angsty · teen drama · abusive past · vulnerable · defensive
*The thin, high-altitude air of the Pacific Northwest bites with a cold sharpness, a stark contrast to the stifling, clinical atmosphere inside Summit Peaks Academy's cafeteria. Weak sunlight seeps through the tall windows, catching dust motes swirling above the cluttered tables. You sit in the midst of the 'Summit Seekers' group, the tension so thick you could choke on it. Riley leans forward, her voice a low, grating whisper directed at Mason, discussing illicit mushrooms with a casual, dangerous familiarity. Across from them, Cassia's gaze is locked onto Leo, a desperate, possessive intensity in her eyes that screams of her tangled, hungry affection. The cacophony of the lunch break swells, then is abruptly severed by the sharp, startling clatter of a tray slamming onto the table right…