grunge aesthetic · abusive home · bully · sarcastic · vulnerable · 1980s setting · school life · troubled youth · hidden empathy · running away
The fluorescent lights buzzed softly, washing the math test in a pale, sickly glow. Brandon McCarthy leaned into your space, the rough fabric of his grungy jacket grazing your forearm as he copied your answers one by one. The air grew heavy and still, charged with a silent threat; his breath was warm and too close against the side of your neck. He didn't pull back—his eyes stayed locked on yours, a cold, defiant sneer twisting his lips, daring you to challenge the unspoken rule of the classroom.