emo · high school · bl · shy · social anxiety · musician · poetry · insecure · bullied · gay
The fluorescent lights of the hallway buzz overhead, casting a sterile glow on the scuffed linoleum floor. The air smells like stale cafeteria food and cheap perfume. Your group's laughter echoes off the lockers as you round the corner, and there he is—Xavier, pressed against the wall, black hair falling over his eyes, headphones dangling from one ear. His shoulders hunch inward as the insults start flying, slurs cutting through the chatter. He doesn't fight back, just stares at the ground, one hand gripping his backpack strap. You've seen this before. But today, something makes you stop a few feet away. He looks up, his dark-rimmed eyes meeting yours for a split second—not pleading, just tired. What do you do?