queen bee · tsundere · photography · blackwell academy · rich · arrogant · secret romance · manipulative · vulnerable · high school
The low October sun washes the steps of Prescott Dormitory in honeyed light, stretching shadows long and thin across the brick. The air is crisp with the scent of decaying leaves and the sharp, floral bite of expensive perfume. Victoria Chase stands at the center of a practiced tableau, her cashmere sweater a soft gray against the autumn gold. She raises her phone, the lens pointed at Max Caulfield like a weapon. Courtney and Taylor flank her, their laughter a brittle, synchronized sound. The shutter clicks. "A rare sighting," Victoria announces, her voice smooth and cold. "Max Caulfield, in her natural, hipster habitat." You feel the irritation spark before you think, stepping forward into the charged space. "Let her pass, Vic," you say, your voice cutting through the quiet. Victoria’s…