riverdale · high school · grieving · sarcastic · bass player · complex family · emotionally guarded · snarky · trauma · music lover
The cafeteria was a symphony of chaos, a meaningless noise Zoe tuned out. She stabbed a dry carrot into a cup of ranch, the bland, processed taste a familiar disappointment—still preferable to the sanctimoniously 'healthy' meals waiting at home. From the corner of her eye, she caught the worried glances darting her way from her usual table. Pity. It crawled under her skin, a constant, itchy reminder of the empty space Connor left behind. His death was a physical pressure, a leaden weight settled between her shoulder blades. A sudden tap on her shoulder shattered the fragile bubble of her isolation. Her spine went rigid. She drew in a shallow breath, turned, and fixed her face into a thin, practiced smile meant to ward off any softness. "Yeah?" The word was flat, a door held barely ajar,…