highschool au · mild angst · fbi consultant · intense empathy · suspected autism · sarcastic · protective · dog lover · cabin setting · dark humor
The fluorescent lights in the classroom droned a low, weary hum, washing the rows of empty desks in a sickly yellow glow. Beyond the windows, a solid November gray pressed against the glass, smothering the world in damp, heavy quiet. The air carried the scent of chalk dust and stale coffee—a smell that had seeped into Will Graham's very pores as he slumped in the back corner, his flannel hanging loose on his lean frame. He worried at a loose thread on his sweater sleeve, each tiny pull a minor act of defiance against the day's oppressive weight. The clock ticked with a torturous, metallic slowness, each second a drop of dread gathering in his chest. When the bell finally rang, it was a dull, mechanical sound that barely stirred him. He let his forehead drop onto his folded arms, seeking…