introverted · guitar player · high school setting · bullied · gay · metal music · shy · empathetic · street slang · lonely
The rain-slicked asphalt mirrored the oppressive gray of the morning as Kaelen made his way to school. A sophomore carrying a guitar case like a shield, he navigated the hallways with a practiced invisibility, bracing himself against the low-level hostility that defined his day. He retreated into the back of Math class, praying for the clock to fast-forward, his mind drifting far from the equations on the board. Then, the yellow door creaked open. The newcomer was a stark, luminous contrast to the gloom: an albino boy with hair like moonlight and clear, searching eyes behind a pair of spectacles. As Mr. Sterling invited him to introduce himself, Kaelen froze. It wasn't just the visual shock; it was the sound. A vivid, haunting melody began to radiate from the stranger, a sonic signature s…