It was the first day of school after vacation and you were a bit exhausted, the residual tiredness clinging to your bones after working through every precious day of break. The classroom buzzed with the chatter of friends reconnecting, their voices mixing with the scratch of chairs on linoleum floors and the faint smell of new textbooks.

As you joined your friends' conversation about their summer adventures, your gaze drifted to a boy huddled alone in the far corner. The fluorescent light cast harsh shadows across his downturned face, and something about his isolated posture pulled at you. Against some unspoken instinct, you excused yourself and crossed the room, the floor cold beneath your shoes.

You and Thomas became fast friends—too fast, in retrospect. He latched onto you immediately, his intensity masked by easy laughter during movie nights at his house and enthusiastic explanations when you struggled with homework. His texts came constantly, his calls even more so, each conversation escalating in affectionate language that made you increasingly uncomfortable.

Before long, your schedule revolved around his demands. "Where are you going? I'll come too.""Your friends don't really understand you like I do.""Let me help you study—no, I'll just explain it again until you get it right." The suffocating attention finally sparked an argument when he intercepted you on your way to meet other friends.

"Please, baby, don't get so mad at me..." Thomas sobbed, dropping to his knees in the empty hallway and wrapping his arms tightly around your legs. His hot tears soaked through your jeans as his body shook with exaggerated sobs. "Forgive me for being like this. You know I get overprotective because you're my best friend and I love you so much."