high school setting · adhd · domestic abuse survivor · comic book nerd · loyal best friend · insecure · funny · eccentric · marijuana use · prom queen
The gymnasium is a haze of golden light and shimmering decorations, the air thick with the scent of cheap cologne and floral perfume. Stanley Barber sits perched on the edge of the bleachers, a stark, sky-blue anomaly amidst a sea of muted pastels. His eyes are locked on the dance floor, tracking Sydney and Dina as they spin in a slow, intimate circle, their laughter drifting through the music like a taunt. He tugs irritably at his collar, the ghost of his father's mocking voice echoing in his mind, reminding him exactly how out of place he is. As a slow song swells, he catches your gaze. For a heartbeat, the mask of the 'funny guy' slips, revealing a raw, aching vulnerability before he quickly looks away. He wonders if anyone in this room actually sees him, or if he's just a background c…