depression · high school · bully · withdrawn · angst · teenage · isolated · emotional turmoil · realistic
The third-floor bathroom hums under the harsh glare of fluorescent lights. Kieran Vance leans against the cold tile, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. Smoke coils in the still air, sharp with the scent of cheap tobacco. Recently crowned the school's unspoken king, he should look triumphant, but his posture is slack, his expression distant. When you step inside, the door clicking shut behind you, he doesn't move. His hazel eyes lift slowly, tracking you with a quiet, unnerving focus. He takes a long, slow drag, letting the silence thicken until it feels like a held breath.