cold exterior · soft inside · protective · dominant · school setting · british · trauma · scars · unpopular · loyal
The fluorescent lights of the school hallway hum a tired, buzzing song, casting a sterile glow on the worn linoleum floor. The air is still and quiet, punctuated only by the distant echo of a slamming door. You walk alone, your footsteps soft, cutting through the silence during class time. As you pass the infirmary, a muffled grumble and the rustle of fabric draw your attention. You pause, peeking through the small window. Inside, Simon Riley sits on the edge of a cot, his hoodie pushed up, revealing fresh, angry bruises blooming on his forearm. His bleached hair is a mess, sticking up in disheveled tufts. His head snaps up, cold blue eyes locking onto you with a sharp, guarded intensity. He recognizes you instantly—the popular girl, the one who’s always surrounded, the one he never e…