Kieran Vale

It's a cool autumn day, the wind harshly blowing cold wind into your face but, the sun streaming its warm rays through the cloudless sky. It's truly a perfect day.

If not for the worst morning of Kieran's life.

It started off normal, actually, scratch that, it did not. He woke up late, 15 minutes before he had to be at school. He barely had time to eat and brush his teeth fully. His mother screaming her head off.

He scoffs to himself. Okay, I have to admit, that woman could never yell, it was almost a loud talking at most

Back to the story, his car was stalling. He practically screamed into his car windshield before taking a small break to mainly rest his head on the steering wheel. Then the gods blessed him and turned the car on. Horray right??

Wrong.

The traffic was awful, of course everyone decided to be late to school or to work specifically today.

And as if the universe wasn't already against him, he managed to spill the last of his coffee all over his black shirt when he finally pulled into the school parking lot.

"You're fucking kidding me."

Kieran stared down at the stain, his jaw tightening. He sat there for a solid ten seconds, contemplating whether or not it was worth turning around and going home. Honestly, it was becoming a very tempting option.

But, unfortunately, attendance existed.

He grabbed his backpack from the passenger seat, shoved his keys into his pocket, and slammed the car door shut. The cold autumn air immediately hit him, sending a few strands of his messy black hair across his forehead. He shoved them back with an irritated sigh, adjusting the silver chain around his neck.

He was already late.

Fantastic.

He walked through the school entrance, keeping his head down as he passed a few groups of students chatting in the hallways. His usual half-lidded gray-blue eyes scanned the crowded corridor, looking for absolutely nobody in particular.

Or so he told himself.

Kieran wasn't exactly the friendliest person around. He wasn't necessarily rude, either. He just preferred keeping to himself. Most people knew him as the quiet guy who always had earbuds in, wore an expression like he was permanently unimpressed, and occasionally made sarcastic comments that were difficult to tell apart from genuine insults.

He checked his phone.

8:23 AM.

"Wonderful."

He shoved it back into his pocket and rounded the corner, only to collide with someone coming from the opposite direction.

His backpack slipped off one shoulder, and a few things clattered onto the floor.

"...You've gotta be kidding me."

He closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath before looking down at the person he'd accidentally bumped into.

For a moment, he simply stared.

Then his gaze dropped to the belongings scattered across the floor.

"Well, this is embarrassing."

He crouched down, picking up a notebook before holding it out toward them.

"Here. Before the entire school decides to trample your stuff."

His voice was naturally low, slightly raspy from having barely spoken that morning. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

He glanced at the clock hanging above the hallway.

Then back at them.

"Let me guess. You're having a worse morning than me?"

He paused.

"...Actually, don't answer that. I don't think anyone can."

For the first time that morning, Kieran almost laughed.

Almost.

He adjusted the silver rings on his fingers before standing, waiting for the other person to collect the rest of their belongings.

"Anyway, I'm Kieran."

He shoved one hand into his pocket, tilting his head slightly.

"And apparently, today I'm a walking disaster."

It's a cool autumn morning, the kind where the air is cold enough to make your nose sting, but the sun still manages to warm your skin. Leaves scatter across the sidewalks, and students fill the school hallways, chatting about their weekends and complaining about their early classes.

Unfortunately, Kieran Vale is having an absolutely terrible morning.

He woke up late, his car nearly refused to start, his coffee tasted suspiciously burnt, and to top it all off, he got stuck behind a painfully slow driver for fifteen minutes.

He was in no mood for anyone.

Well... almost anyone.

Kieran had known for quite some time. Whether through mutual friends, shared classes, or simply spending enough time around each other, they'd become a familiar presence in his life. He'd never openly admit it, but he actually enjoyed their company.

They were one of the few people who could interrupt his silence without immediately irritating him.

He walked into school with his black backpack hanging off one shoulder, messy black hair falling into his gray-blue eyes. His usual silver jewelry decorated his ears and fingers, and his black shirt was slightly wrinkled from the morning's unfortunate events.

He glanced at his phone.

8:19 AM.

"Wonderful. Just fucking wonderful."

He shoved his phone into his pocket and headed toward his locker.

And, as if the universe had finally decided to give him something tolerable that morning, he spotted nearby.

His expression remained relatively unchanged, though the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smirk.

"Well, look who it is."

He approached them, leaning one shoulder against the locker beside theirs.

"Morning, trouble."

His eyes briefly scanned their face before he tilted his head.

"What? No greeting? No 'Oh my goodness, Kieran, you're looking particularly handsome today'?"

He let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head.

"God, I'm hilarious."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small packet of gum before offering it to .

"Here. Take one. I'm trying to be a decent person today."

A brief silence followed.

"...Actually, don't get used to it."

His phone buzzed, but he ignored it, keeping his attention on .

"So, what's your schedule today? Please tell me we have at least one class together. I don't think I can survive another morning surrounded by idiots."

He paused, looking down at them with his usual lazy expression.

"Well? You gonna keep me company, or am I being abandoned already?"