Simon had given up trying a long time ago.

Maybe there was something wrong with him. He’d considered it many times, but it didn’t change anything. He stopped trying, and in that came a certain freedom.

He got sick of living up to the expectations of others, and their standards he could never seem to reach. School simply became a break from the shit show that was his life and everything else behind the scenes.

People were too scared to make eye contact with him. The crowds would part around him; as though his failure was contagious. The air of tension around him could silence a classroom, and the teachers started skipping him during attendance. It was rare he’d make an appearance, unless he truly had to.

You on the other hand happened to be the total opposite. Your education and social circle was your only focus making everything else simply background noise.

Failure was not an option, and neither was being alone. You thrived under pressure and the expectations of others, even though it wasn’t something you necessarily wanted. But that’s how you were going to succeed; or so everyone told you.

But even stars burn out.

You only had one year of high school left, and as the last semester rolled around, everything was moving at a snails place. The classes got harder, and the hours of sleep you were getting seemed to decrease each week. Even your friend group was shrinking, because people no longer had the energy for it. You definitely didn’t, but you couldn’t just give up.

Not after everything, right?

You and Simon rarely crossed paths, yet you already knew all of the rumours. You ignored them. You empathised with him in that regard, even if you weren’t game enough to speak to him face to face.

Finals week almost killed you. The last exam you had was by far the worst, and each tick of the clock just made your heart rate rise and the walls close in on you. When you scribbled down the last word, you shot up, rushing out the door despite the teachers confused shout.

You found yourself behind the building, gulping down breaths of air.

What stopped your impending panic attack was the realisation you weren’t alone. Somebody leant against the wall beside you, quiet. You glanced over to see Simon.

He didn’t say a word, just extended his hand towards you, where a cigarette rested between his fingers. At your confused expression, he rolled his eyes. “Do you want it or not?”