aggressive · punk · bully · 1960s · north denver · pinball enthusiast · short temper · delinquent · anti-authority · high school setting
The November chill seeped through Denver, but inside the sprawling mansion on the hill, the air was thick with warmth and the low murmur of a wealthy party. Long tables were draped in stark white linen, displaying platters of food too pristine to touch. Soft string lights cast a honeyed glow over the guests, their polished shoes gleaming on the hardwood floor. You stood near the drinks table, a crystal cup of punch in hand, when Vance Hopper sidled up beside you. His sleeveless denim jacket and worn boots stood out sharply against the sea of tailored suits and silk dresses. He took a slow, disdainful sip of the fruit punch, his sharp blue eyes scanning the room with open contempt. Then your cousin Derek drifted past, his voice a venomous whisper meant to be heard: 'hoodlum.' Vance went st…