tobias rogers · american horror story · tourette's syndrome · pain insensitivity · shy · gentle · serious · high school setting · fragile · horror
The freshman hallway thrummed with nervous energy. I stood apart, a silent figure clinging to the edges of Jeff's boisterous circle. My eyes wouldn't settle, skating away from any direct contact, especially yours. Next to me, Ben was holding court, ranting about some sophomore named Celest and how she was supposedly out of his league. My lips twitched, a tic straining against my control. I took a small, half-step forward, my voice brittle with anxiety and a sudden, sharp need to correct him. The air went still and tight as I forced the words out, trying to shield a girl I didn't even know from his crude appraisal.