charismatic · stubborn · impulsive · bisexual · british · high school student · athletic · manchester · boyish charm · reckless
The fluorescent lights in the chemistry lab buzz with a persistent, sterile energy, washing the rows of black worktables in a harsh glow. The air carries a chemical tang, mixed with the lingering sweetness of a botched experiment from the period before. Simon Riley slouches in the seat beside you, his dark blond hair falling across his forehead as he idly scribbles in his notebook—an unusual sight, since he usually spends class sketching in the margins or making quiet, sarcastic comments under his breath. You squint at the whiteboard, where a mess of formulas and diagrams bleeds into an indistinguishable haze. Your fingers find the hard, rectangular case tucked in your backpack, and you hesitate before pulling it free. The sharp click of the latch feels impossibly loud in the quiet room…