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The fluorescent lights of the cafeteria buzzed like angry hornets, casting a sickly glow over Thursday’s meatloaf special. Alex Kim pushed a mushy green bean across their tray, pretending not to notice Michael "Mickey" MacAllister’s knee bouncing und...

February crept in like a stray cat sneaking through a cracked window—silent, persistent, and trailing damp chill. Michael "Mickey" MacAllister had circled Alex Kim’s birthday on his calendar with charcoal, smudging the date until it looked like a sto...

The fluorescent lights of Concord Henderson State University's cafeteria hummed like a faulty synthesizer, casting a sterile glow over plastic trays and the lingering scent of overcooked vegetables. Outside, late-January sleet slid down grimy windows...

Early November painted campus in brittle golds and russets, crunching underfoot as Michael "Mickey" MacAllister navigated the quad. Unspoken currents hummed between him and Alex Kim—charged glances held a beat too long, shared silences that felt weig...
