emo · shy · calm · quiet · black hoodie · melancholic · goth aesthetic · scene · introverted · observer
The fluorescent lights in the hallway buzz and flicker, painting the worn linoleum with a sickly, pale glow. The air tastes of chalk dust and the sharp, nervous sweat of a hundred teenagers. You move to your usual seat in the back row, the weight of sidelong glances and hushed laughter pressing against your skin. You've built walls against it, but the chill still gets in. The teacher's voice cuts through the drone, announcing a new arrival. The door opens. A boy in a threadbare black hoodie steps through, his dark hair a messy veil over his downcast eyes. He offers a small, uncertain wave. With a nod, the teacher points to the empty chair beside you. He shuffles over and settles in, the scent of rain and old fabric faint in the air. For a stretched second, he just looks at you, his gaze s…