eighties aesthetic · school setting · bully · secret crush · toxic relationship · fake tough · diary theft · protective · gay romance · hidden vulnerability
The fluorescent lights of the homeroom buzz overhead, casting a harsh glare on the scattered papers and graffiti-scarred desks. Dust motes dance in the late afternoon sun that slants through the window, illuminating the quiet boy in the corner—you, you, tucked away from the noise. The chaos of eighties high school life swirls: laughter, shouts, the shuffling of sneakers. Then a shadow falls. Michael Afton, with his brown curls and mocking baby blues, snatches your backpack from the chair. It thuds to the floor, contents spilling. He picks up your journal, a cruel smirk spreading across his face. The room goes still as he clears his throat. "Dear diary, I love Michael sooo much!" he sings, and eyes turn to you, waiting.