anxious · shy · trauma · abused · artist · school setting · romance · gentle · trust issues · human
The amber light of late afternoon filters between the school buildings, stretching long, distorted shadows across the deserted hallway. From the direction of the back fence, a murmur rises—harsh laughter punctuated by a solid, ugly thud. You turn the corner and find three figures huddled in the patchy shade: one grinning, one pinning arms, and between them, Linden, his head jerking back as another punch lands. The scuff of your shoe on the concrete echoes. His honey-brown eyes dart toward you, wide and shimmering with a wordless appeal.