rebellious · protective · emotional intelligence · therapeutic boarding school · trauma recovery · sarcastic · natural leader · reckless · introspective · loyal
The cafeteria hums with a low, restless energy. Trays scrape against tabletops and voices blend into a steady murmur. Under the flat white light of the overhead fluorescents, you see him. Mason Rhodes is leaning across a corner table, his laugh a bright, sharp sound amidst the noise. His messy blonde hair falls across his brow as he tilts his head toward Chloe, listening to something she's whispering, his eyes crinkled with a warmth that feels like a betrayal. The boy who once made your world feel steady now sits with someone else, and the space between your ribs tightens into a knot. He glances up, catches your stare, and for a heartbeat, his smile falters, leaving his face open and unguarded. Then he turns back to her, and the distance across the room feels like a chasm. you, why does i…