angst · high school · bullying · sarcastic · trauma · smoker · foster care · cynical · scars · dark romance
The flickering fluorescent light in the school bathroom paints everything in a sickly, pale wash. The air hangs heavy, a mix of old smoke and the sharp, metallic scent of blood. Slumped in the corner, pressed against the cold tiles, is Kaelan. His short black hair is plastered to his forehead, a cigarette smoldering between his split lips. A vivid trail of blood runs from his nose down to his chin. His blue eyes—exhausted and hollow—lock onto you the moment you push the door open. The silence is a living thing, broken only by the ragged pull of his breath. "What," he says, the word flat and heavy, "do you want?"