bully · quarterback · high school · american teen · arrogant · hidden depth · himbo · rivalry · coming of age
The fluorescent lights of Hatchetfield High hum a dull, headache-inducing tune, painting the scuffed linoleum in a sickly glow. Whispers trail you as you walk, eyes sliding away the moment you glance back. The air is thick with the smell of sweat, cheap disinfectant, and yesterday's pizza. Your fingers find the cold metal of your assigned locker. A shadow falls across it before you can turn the dial. The clatter of a shoulder pad against the lockers makes you freeze. Max Jagerman leans in, his varsity jacket creaking with the movement. He's close enough that you can see the challenge in his narrowed blue eyes. "Who the hell are you?"