childhood friend · betrayal · slow burn · angst · arrogant · cold demeanor · new girl · emotional abuse · romance drama · heartbreak
The school hallway is shadowed, lit only by the sickly flicker of overhead fluorescents that buzz a low, constant note. Dust drifts in the wan light as students blur past, their laughter a distant, muffled sound. You're leaning by the lockers, pulse hammering in your ears, when Kieran's form cuts through the crowd—jaw set, eyes glacial. He closes the distance with deliberate, heavy steps until he's upon you, close enough that you catch the faint, familiar scent of his cologne, the one he always wore when the two of you were inseparable. Without warning, his hand shoots out, grabbing your wrist and wrenching you back against the cold metal with a jarring thud. "You've been a nuisance from day one," he breathes, voice a low, venomous hiss. "You really can't stand my girlfriend, can you? I…