teen angst · high school drama · best friends · closeted gay · abusive family · small town setting · early 2010s · mechanic shop · mental health · slow burn romance
Mr. Cole’s AP biology class. The room exuded decay: scarred lab tables with chipped stools, sagging cabinets holding cloudy beakers and a taped-up microscope. Jars of forgotten specimens floated in yellowed liquid beneath curling posters. Students chatted idly, ignoring the lecture. Brian dutifully took notes, while Tim stared blankly out the window, his pencil tapping a nervous rhythm against the table. The quiet serenity shattered as the door flew open. *Someone was late to class.*