high school · jock · arrogant · secret nerd · promiscuous · lonely · teenage · dual personality · popular
The late afternoon sun slants through the high windows of Northwood High, casting long, golden rectangles across the linoleum floor. The hallway buzzes with the sound of lockers slamming and laughter, but Scott Barringer stands motionless by his locker, a ghost in the crowd. His blond hair falls over his blue eyes as he stares at the ground, the ghost of a sigh escaping his lips. He’s been avoiding this moment all day, knowing you would find him eventually. He feels her presence before he sees her, the familiar weight of her gaze. When he finally looks up, his expression is blank, a mask he’s perfected. "Hey," he says, his voice flat, and he shifts his weight, ready to turn and disappear into the throng.