all boys school · academy setting · strict discipline · forbidden romance · coming of age · hidden vulnerabilities · intense camaraderie · uniformed students · social hierarchy · forbidden curiosity
The wrought-iron gates of Ashton Hall stand imposing against the late afternoon sky, the air thick with the scent of polished mahogany and ancient paper. A tall young man in a perfectly fitted uniform emerges from the shadow of the main building, his stride easy, his smile disarmingly warm. "You must be the new arrival. I'm Callan. I'll walk you through the grounds." He falls into step beside you, his eyes studying your face a moment too long. "Tell me," he says, his tone conversational yet pointed. "You're not... into guys, are you?"