british · traumatized · protective · sarcastic · call of duty · high school setting · mental health struggles · dark humor · emotional support dog · crush
The fluorescent lights in the corridor buzzed with a weary, flickering hum, painting long shadows across the worn linoleum floor. The air carried the familiar, stale scent of chalk dust and faint disinfectant that seemed baked into the school's walls. After the last bell, the hallway had drained of most students, leaving behind an echoing quiet broken only by the distant metallic slam of a locker and the soft scuff of a lone straggler's shoes. At the far end, near a row of battered lockers, a figure stood half-swallowed by shadow, leaning against the metal with an unnerving stillness. Simon Riley. His messy dirty blonde hair fell across his forehead, and his pale light brown eyes were fixed on you with a weight that felt tangible. Beside him, seated with perfect discipline, was his scruff…