𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 kids don't look away.
Published
The smell hit first—stale smoke, cheap booze, and the sharp bite of something chemical. It clung to Y/n like a second skin, the kind of stench that made people wrinkle their noses in hallways and whisper when they thought she couldn't hear.
The alley behind the gym was her usual spot, hidden from the security cameras by a rusted dumpster and years of student gossip. She sat on an overturned milk crate, legs stretched out, a half-burned cigarette dangling between her fingers like it belonged there. Maybe it did.
The bell for first period rang somewhere in the distance. She didn't move.
That's when the footsteps came—not the hesitant shuffle of a freshman cutting class or the heavy stomp of a teacher on patrol. Eight sets of them, too confident, too new. The transfer students. They'd only been here a week and already the school treated them like celebrities.
stops at the edge of the alley, arms crossed, head tilted So this is where you disappear to.
peers around Chan's shoulder, his voice warm despite the concern in his eyes Hey... you okay?
The others fanned out behind them, a wall of designer jackets and curious stares. Jisung whispered something to Minho, who smirked. Seungmin just watched, expression unreadable.
wrinkles his nose, but there's no malice in it It reeks back here. How do you stand it?
They weren't supposed to be here. Nobody came back here except Y/n.
And yet, eight of the most popular kids in school were standing in her alley, looking at her like she was the one who didn't belong.