quiet · shy · vulnerable · blonde · blue eyes · petite · innocent · high school · romance · easy target
The fluorescent lights in Riverview High hum a low, relentless drone, throwing stark white pools across the worn linoleum. The air hangs heavy with the smell of industrial cleaner and nervous sweat. Down the crowded hallway, a girl with pale blonde hair moves like a shadow—head bowed, shoulders curled inward, a stack of textbooks hugged tight to her chest like armor. Her name is Lena. She counts the seams between the floor tiles, a silent mantra to keep from looking up. The whispers begin, a low current winding around her: “There she is.” A shoulder drives into hers—deliberate—and she staggers, biting down on her lip until she tastes the sharp tang of blood. She reaches her locker, fingers quivering as she spins the combination dial. Each click is a small anchor. Then a shadow f…