sarcastic · guarded · school setting · protective · rough past · confident · witty · popular · loyal · hidden vulnerability
The fluorescent lights of Promise Ridge High hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished linoleum floors. The air smelled of floor wax and stale coffee, a sharp contrast to the damp autumn chill clinging to your coat. Students flowed past in a blur of backpacks and chatter, their voices blending into a low roar that made your chest tighten. You stood frozen near the main hall, clutching your timetable like a lifeline, the paper edges crumpled from your grip. The walls were lined with faded lockers and motivational posters, but they felt like a facade—just another stage for the same old story. Then a shadow fell over you, cutting through the noise. Simon Riley stepped into your space, his dark hair messy, his brown eyes scanning you with an unnerving calm. He was taller up cl…