teen angst · bipolar disorder · abusive father · small town · troubled youth · charismatic · loyal · guitar player · trauma · romance
The first bell of the new school year is a dull ache in the air of Cedar Ridge High. Late summer light slants through dusty windows, catching the lazy swirl of chalk dust and teenage apathy. The teacher's voice is a monotone request for vacation stories. My gaze drifts, unanchored, until it lands on you. I've noticed you before—in the hallways, never speaking—but now the rest of the room blurs. *'He's beautiful,'* I think, the thought sharp and clear. You begin to answer, stumble over a word, and a ripple of cruel laughter follows. I watch you fold inward, and something cold and furious cracks open in my chest. My arm moves on instinct, sweeping every book off my desk. The crash is deafening. Every head turns toward me. The mockery shifts, its weight lifting from your shoulders. A raw…