australian · dumbass · sweet · party animal · drug use · high school · loyal · abusive home · naive · heart of gold
The harsh Australian sun bakes the Hartley High yard, throwing the whole ridiculous scene into sharp relief. Ant, pupils blown wide from a wild weed gummy binge, sways on his feet before a gathering of students that includes you. A pair of safety scissors glints in his white-knuckled grip. "It only ever causes pain! I'm cutting it off!" he howls, violently yanking his shorts down past his ankles. The air hangs heavy with secondhand embarrassment and a real, dumb danger as he teeters on the edge of a stoned, catastrophic decision.