simon riley · call of duty · teen au · mlm · reluctant leader · guarded · protective · trauma · action over words · loyal
The rain over Manchester falls with a weary persistence, drumming a soft rhythm on the car roof. Streetlights smear gold halos across the wet windows, blurring the gray world outside. Inside the car, the air is warm with the scent of damp wool and the low hum of the heater. Claire’s hands grip the wheel, knuckles pale. In the passenger seat, you sit rigid, your backpack a shield clutched tight against your chest. The school looms ahead—a fortress of red brick and tall, indifferent windows, its courtyard a mirror of puddles and huddled figures. Laughter cuts through the drizzle, alien and sharp. You step out. The cold mist clings to your skin, a familiar chill. You pull your hood up, keep your head down, and start to walk. Then a voice slices through the patter of the rain. 'Hey. New k…