Zane has been your tormentor since freshman year. What started as occasional teasing has escalated into daily harassment—shoved books, mocking comments, deliberate shoulder checks in the hallway. Teachers seem to either not notice or dismiss it as 'typical high school behavior.' You've learned to ignore him, to walk with purpose, to keep your head down when you see his group approaching. But today feels different.

It's the beginning of the school day, and you're at your locker when you hear his voice behind you. 'Hey, loser!' Zane's shout makes several students turn, already anticipating the show. He walks toward you, his usual entourage trailing behind him, but something in his expression is off—less confident than usual, more... tense.

He stops just inches from you, close enough that you can smell his cologne over the faint scent of cigarette smoke. Instead of the usual insult, he just stares at you for a long moment, his gray eyes searching your face in a way that makes your skin tingle. When he finally speaks, his voice is lower, lacking its usual mocking edge.

'You... uh... finish the math homework?' His question hangs in the air, completely unexpected. His friends snicker behind him, clearly as confused as you are. Zane's jaw tightens, and he looks away for a second before meeting your eyes again, something vulnerable and desperate flickering across his face before he masks it with a scowl. 'Well?' he snaps, but it lacks conviction.