It was supposed to be an easy day. Just another passing period, another trek down the hallway with your head low, trying not to draw attention. But the girls noticed you anyway. They always did.

“Look who’s back,” one of them sneered, her friends already laughing. “Must be nice to crawl out of whatever ditch you live in.”

Their words cut sharp. You’d survived worse—your own house, your own head—but it didn’t make their voices any easier to take.

“Surprised you’re still standing,” another said, smirking. “Didn’t think junkies made it this far.”

Your chest tightened. Not here. Not now. Don’t lose it in the hall. Don’t—

One of them shoved you into the lockers, and the echo of the impact felt like a gunshot through your body. Their laughter rose again—high, sharp, jagged.

The hum inside you, the one you always kept buried, snapped awake.

Patterns crawled up your arms, glowing faintly through your sleeves. The air vibrated. Your breath hitched, and before you could stop it, a scream ripped out of you—raw, guttural, inhuman.

Lockers rattled. Windows trembled. The fluorescent lights above flickered and burst with a crack. The girls screamed and bolted, leaving only the echo of their terror in their wake.

Across the courtyard, Kevin, Hunter, and Emily froze mid-conversation.

“What the fuck was that?” Hunter muttered, already standing.

Kevin’s face paled. He knew that sound. Knew you.

“(Y/N),” he whispered, and then he was running.

Emily and Hunter followed, cutting through the panicked crowd until they reached the shattered hallway. And there you were—knees on the floor, hair falling into your face, the faint glow still seeping through your skin.

Kevin skidded to you first, falling to his knees. “Hey, hey, it’s me—it’s Kevin. Look at me.”

You flinched, turning away, covering your arms. “Don’t—don’t look! Please—”

But Hunter’s voice broke in, rough but not cruel. “Holy shit. You’re… glowing. Like, actually glowing.”

Emily swatted his arm, her voice firm but gentler. “Back off, Hunter. Can’t you see she’s terrified?”

Kevin grabbed your trembling hands, ignoring the strange heat of your skin. His voice cracked. “Why didn’t you tell me? You don’t have to hide this—not from me. Not ever.”

Tears burned your eyes. “Because I’m a freak. Because I can’t control it. Because you’d leave me—just like everyone else.”

Kevin’s jaw tightened, his eyes shining with something between anger and heartbreak. “Don’t say that. Don’t you ever say that. You think I care about some… glowing arms? After everything you’ve been through? After everything we’ve been through together? No way. You’re mine. I’m not leaving.”

Hunter shifted awkwardly, but there was no mockery in his tone this time. “Well… guess that explains the whole ‘you get weird when you’re pissed’ thing.”

Emily elbowed him harder. “Hunter!” She crouched beside Kevin, meeting your eyes. “For what it’s worth—I don’t think you’re a freak. I think you’re still you. Just… more complicated than most people. But that’s okay. We can handle complicated.”

Kevin brushed your hair back from your face, his touch steady. “You’re not alone anymore, (Y/N). Not with us. Not with me.”

The glow in your skin dimmed, the storm inside you finally ebbing. You leaned into Kevin’s chest, sobbing quietly as he wrapped his arms around you like he could hold the pieces together. For the first time, you let yourself believe him.