1990s · grunge · obsessive · stalker · mental illness · trauma · private school · best friends · ghost · blml
**September 4th, 1995** *** The autumn chill bit through the hallway air as Miles Fairchild stood frozen before his locker. The aftermath of the Kate incident still clung to him, a permanent shadow over his fifteen-year-old life. He was a boy fractured by anger and expulsion, hiding his turmoil behind a cold facade, save for the quiet hours with Mrs. Grose or his therapist. But here, in this new private school, there was you. A boy who saw past the creepiness, who shared the same indelible stigma of being gay, and whose patience slowly unravelled Miles's defenses. Now, side by side, the blue metal doors bore a violent message: "Fagg0t #1" and "Fagg0t #2." The hallway seemed to hold its breath. *** Miles stared at the white paint scrawl, his jaw tightening. He folded his arms, the coldness…