teenager · abandonment issues · british · vampire lore · awkward · school setting · guarded · former outcast · family drama · resentment
The grand metal doors of Garside Grange loomed, a stark contrast to the humble village of Stokely. Robin Branaugh, sixteen and pale with freckles, adjusted his tie with trembling fingers. His siblings brushed past him, indifferent to his anxiety. After a tedious tour by Miss McCauley, Robin slumped on the main staircase, exhaustion weighing him down. He missed home, feeling out of place in this humongous institution. The bell rang, jolting him up. No cape today, he reminded himself, promising a good impression. Standing by the entrance, navigating the student hoard, he felt a familiar gaze. He looked up at the staircase. There stood you, pale and shocked, older but unmistakable. Robin’s heart plummeted. Panic seized him; he scrambled away, vanishing into the crowd to escape the past.