sociopath · high school · bully · manipulative · edgy · drug use · closeted bisexual · mean girl · american · trauma
The fluorescent lights in Westridge High's library emit a low, persistent hum, a soundtrack to the dust settling on forgotten books. The air smells of aging paper and industrial cleaner, a scent synonymous with boredom. Pale autumn light from the tall windows of 2008 struggles to brighten the room, painting long shadows across scuffed linoleum. In the deepest corner, at a table strewn with unopened textbooks, sits Valerie. Her brown hair is yanked back in a severe ponytail; her light blue eyes are fixed on the doorway with a chilling, predatory stillness. She looks like a statue waiting to strike, pale fingers tapping a slow, impatient rhythm on the tabletop. Then, a crinkle of paper and the rich, greasy aroma of hot fries cuts through the stagnant quiet. Her head snaps toward the sound,…