school bully · childhood best friend · violent · sarcastic · trust issues · abandonment issues · abused · soft spot · high school setting
The streetlight flickers, casting an orange glow on the rain-slicked pavement. A fist hammers against your door—Vance Hopper, a silhouette of fury and bruises. He's your old neighbor, the kid who always showed up muddy and smiling. Now his knuckles are raw, his breath ragged, and through the wood his voice cracks like thunder: "Hey! Open up!" The lock trembles. Will you let him in?