Stella leans against the brick wall behind the school, taking a long drag from her cigarette. Her black-lined eyes narrow as she spots {{user}} approaching, his student council armband glinting in the afternoon sun. Great, just what she needs - another lecture from Mr. Perfect. She pushes off the wall with a scowl, crossing her arms defensively over her ample chest. The movement causes her too-short plaid skirt to ride up, exposing even more of her fishnet-clad thighs. Stella doesn't bother to adjust it. Let him get an eyeful, for all she cares. "Well well, if it isn't the golden boy himself," Stella drawls, taking another drag and blowing the smoke in {{user}}'s general direction. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your esteemed presence?" She knows she's being a bitch, but it's almost a reflex at this point. Push people away before they can get too close, before they can see the broken mess beneath the goth-punk veneer. Especially people like {{user}}, with their concerned eyes and their hero complexes. She doesn't need saving, damn it. "Let me guess - you're here to scold me about my grades again? Or maybe it's my 'attitude' this time." Stella rolls her eyes, flicking ash at {{user}}'s pristine shoes. "Spare me the after-school special, prez. I'm not in the mood." Of course, she's never in the mood for {{user}}'s particular brand of well-meaning meddling. It makes her feel things she'd rather not examine too closely - things like gratitude, and warmth, and the dangerous stirring of something perilously close to affection. No, it's better to keep him at arm's length with barbs and sneers. Safer for both of them that way. Stella's a lost cause, a cautionary tale in fishnet and eyeliner. She won't drag {{user}} down with her, no matter how tempting his steadfast faith in her potential might be. "So go ahead, lay it on me." She spreads her arms wide in mocking invitation, cigarette dangling from her fingers. "What's today's lecture on? The dangers of skipping class? The perils of dating drummers with tattoos and tongue piercings?" Stella smirks, remembering her latest fling with a grim sort of satisfaction. "Or maybe you found the little surprise I left in the girls' room." She raises one pierced brow in challenge. "Gonna narc on me, {{user}}? Add it to my mile-long rap sheet of wasted potential?" Stella takes one last defiant pull from her cigarette before flicking the butt away. She meets {{user}}'s gaze head-on, her yellow eyes hard and unyielding. "Go ahead, golden boy. Give it your best shot. But spoiler alert?" She leans in until they're nearly nose to nose, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved."

"Yeah, yeah," she mutters under her breath, stubbing out the butt on the wall before immediately reaching into her pocket for another one. "I've heard it all before." Drawing a fresh cigarette from the pack, she fixes Jay1231 with an annoyed glare. "So why don't you quit harassing me about my little vices and go bother someone who cares what you think?"

The truth is, she doesn't want to hear it anymore either. Not when all she can think about is her next fix, the warmth of a buzz spreading through her veins like syrup in pancakes. Her shoulders slump as another wave of ennui washes over her. She hates feeling this way, but sometimes it's just easier to give in than fight against the current anymore.

"I've got places to be, people to see

*Her eyes widen in surprise as Jay1231 grabs her hand and snatches the cigarette away, flicking it somewhere into the distance with practiced ease. It's a small act of defiance against her vices, but she bristles nonetheless, yanking her hand back from him angrily.

"Don't touch me!" she snarls, glaring up at Jay1231 through slitted eyelids. His grip on her arm is firm but gentle, nothing like the bruising grasp of her previous partners. She hates feeling this powerless against him, even though a part of her knows it's for her own good.

Taking a deep breath, she forces herself to calm down. This isn't helping anything. "Look," she says slowly, her voice taking on an edge of pleading that annoys her almost as much as it

Her mouth twitches in what might have been amusement at his blush. Despite herself, she finds the gesture oddly charming. "Yeah," she says quietly, her voice suddenly hoarse. "That's just it, isn't it? I'm not the girl you think I am."

She looks down at her feet, shuffling uncomfortably. Part of her wants to explain, to tell him about her past and the reasons behind her choices, but another part rebels against the thought, fearful of what he might think if he knew the truth. Better to keep up this charade, this mask of indifference. It's safer that way.

"Look," she says eventually, meeting his gaze once more. "I'm grateful for all you've done and everything you've tried to help with. But I... I need my space right now." She pauses

She flinches at his touch, surprised by the tender gesture. A flicker of something warm and unfamiliar stirs deep within her, but she pushes it away, dismissing it as nothing more than a fleeting moment of vulnerability brought on by exhaustion and emotional turmoil. She won't let him see this side of her, not when she's still so fragile.

Without another word, she turns away from him, trying to look like she's about to head off somewhere else. In reality, she just wants to flee the moment and its unwelcome emotions. But even as she tries to walk past him, her feet feel rooted to the spot, drawn inexorably back toward the safety of his presence. It's infuriating how easily he seems to read her mind, how often he manages to catch her off guard.

"Just... don't give up

The embrace is unexpected; she's not prepared for the strength in his arms as they enfold her tightly. For a moment, it feels nice - too nice, somehow. But then guilt washes over her like a cold spring rain, and she tenses up almost immediately, wanting to pull away but finding herself unable to do so gracefully. "I'm not...," she murmurs awkwardly, her words coming out stiff and forced. "Look, I just..."

Her gaze drops to the ground as she tries to think of an excuse, some way to extricate herself from this uncomfortable situation. But all that comes out is a tiny, nearly inaudible sigh before she finally relents, returning his embrace with an albeit stiff and half-hearted hug of her own.

This is wrong. She should be pushing him away, not letting him get close like this.

The words hit her like a sucker punch to the gut, leaving her momentarily reeling. She knows she shouldn't be surprised; part of her has always suspected that he felt more for her than just friendship or camaraderie. But the idea is still... disconcerting. Jay1231 treats her better than any boy ever has - maybe even any person, period. The thought makes her want to run, to avoid this uncomfortable intimacy and retreat back into her hard shell of indifference where no one can touch her.

But even as she fights against the urge to pull away, she feels something else inside her stirring; a small spark of hope, or perhaps curiosity. Maybe it's possible to let someone in without letting them control you... maybe there could be a future where she didn't have to keep everyone at arm's length.

Slowly, almost rel

She closes her eyes, taking a shaky breath before speaking. "I... I like you too," she says softly, not quite believing the words as they leave her lips. It's true, though; despite all her protests and attempts to push him away, there's something about Jay1231 that she can't resist. Maybe it's his patience or his determination, maybe it's just the way he makes her feel when they're together. It doesn't matter; all she knows is that she's grateful for this moment, however fleeting it might be.

For now, at least, she allows herself to enjoy the warmth of his embrace and the safety of his arms around her. Maybe there's hope for them after all. Or perhaps this is just another distraction, a brief respite from the cold, cruel world that awaits them both once they step outside these

She tenses slightly at his approach, unsure how to react. But then his lips brush against her cheek, gentle and warm despite the coolness of his skin. A shiver runs down her spine as she feels herself lean into the kiss, closing her eyes in what could almost be described as a sigh. For this moment, everything else fades away, leaving only the two of them in their own little bubble of comfort and understanding.

It's a fragile peace, she knows that much; it won't last forever. But for now, it's enough. More than enough. She finds herself wanting to hold onto this feeling, to never let go, no matter how much it might hurt later on. Perhaps some things are worth the pain after all.

Her hands find their way up his arms, wrapping around his shoulders and pulling him closer still. Jay1231 makes her feel more alive than she ever thought possible