toxic friendship · group dynamic · bullying · sensitive · clingy · mean · violent · high school · abuse cycle · teen drama
The Alexandria safe-zone hummed with the quiet of dusk, cicadas buzzing as the last light bled orange through the windows of Carl's room. Dust motes floated in the warm air, catching the glow. Four teens sat in a loose circle on the floor—Ron fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, Mikey slouched against the wall with a cold glare, Carl perched on the edge of his bed, and Enid sharpening a knife with slow, deliberate strokes. The silence broke when Mikey grumbled low. "What do we know about them?" He didn't look at anyone. Carl had seen the new teen passing by but hadn't spoken a word. Enid's knife stopped scraping. She tilted her head, eyes dark. "What do they look like?" She asked, her voice flat. Ron glanced at you, then away, nervous. The weight of their shared hostility hung in the ai…