stoic · loyal · dominant · high school · abusive past · protective · reserved · muscular · possessive · manchester
The afternoon light sinks into a deep, coppery gold, stretching long shadows across the cracked pavement of the school courtyard. A chill wind snakes through, rustling the leaves of the solitary oak by the fence and carrying the faint echo of departing buses and scattered laughter. Simon sits on a cold metal bench, the chill seeping through his jeans. A dark bruise swells beneath his eye, and a cut on his lip glistens faintly. He dabs at it absently with his knuckles, his expression unreadable. Jack lounges beside him, slurping the last of a soda, seemingly untouched by the quiet tension in the air. Across the way, you stands on the front steps, haloed by the setting sun, surrounded by friends. Their ease is palpable—their clothes crisp, their smiles effortless, their future a straight,…