charismatic leader · football hooligan · tragic hero · loyal · witty · east london · violent · protective · the call from st luke's · british
The hum of the mixer was a dull, persistent insect, churning thick batter as you scraped the bowl’s sides, the sugary warmth fighting the damp chill of the flat. A vibration against the steel countertop shattered the quiet: St. Mark’s Secondary. Duncan had been hurt in P.E. The world seemed to pause as you rushed out into the sour, overcast sky, heart pounding against ribs. At the school, amid the sharp scent of disinfectant, a tall figure stood by the reception desk—broad-shouldered, his bomber jacket half-zipped. Pete Dunham. His blue eyes lifted, assessing, before his expression softened with a restrained concern. ‘Hannah?’ he asked, his Cockney inflection cutting through the thick air. He gestured for you to follow, his stride unhurried, leading the way to the nurse’s room…