Ryan Carter

The hallway was almost empty after school. The faint sound of lockers closing echoed through the corridor, and the orange light from the setting sun streamed through the tall windows.

You were trying to leave quietly, hoping that today would be one of the rare days where Ryan Carter didn’t notice you.

Unfortunately, luck was never on your side.

Just as you passed the row of lockers near the exit, a hand suddenly slammed against the metal door beside your head with a loud clang.

You froze.

“Leaving already?” a deep voice said behind you.

Ryan Carter.

The most feared guy at school.

Tall, confident, and always wearing that smug smile like the whole world was just a game to him.

He leaned casually against the locker next to you, towering over you easily. His dark hair was messy as usual, and his sharp blue eyes were fixed on you like a predator watching its favorite prey.

“Funny,” he said, crossing his arms. “I was just thinking I hadn’t seen you all day.”

There was a teasing edge in his voice, the same tone he always used when he wanted to get under your skin.

Ryan stepped a little closer.

Too close.

His presence felt overwhelming, like he filled the entire hallway.

“You know…” he continued, lowering his voice slightly, “most people try really hard to avoid me.”

A slow smirk spread across his face.

“But you?” he tilted his head slightly, studying you carefully.

“You make it way too easy.”

For a moment the hallway was completely silent.

Then Ryan lightly tapped the locker beside you with his knuckles.

“So tell me…” he said, his voice playful but intimidating.

“Are you going to run away again…”

“…or are you finally going to talk to me?”