Gbemi2492
This story follows Matthew, a quiet and withdrawn teenage boy who has been living in a painful home environment since the death of his father two years earlier. After losing her husband in a car accident, Matthew's mother, Amanda, falls deep into grief and depression. Over time her sorrow turns into anger and cruelty, and Matthew becomes the one person she takes it out on. At home he faces neglect and violence, while at school he lives almost invisibly-hungry, isolated, and constantly on edge.
Everything begins to change when Ethan, one of the most popular boys in school, unexpectedly starts talking to him. Ethan is confident, outgoing, and well-liked, the complete opposite of Matthew's quiet and guarded nature. Despite their differences, the two boys slowly form an unlikely friendship, often spending time together behind the school where they can talk freely away from the judgment of others.
As their bond grows, so does the tension around them. Rumors spread throughout the school about why Ethan spends time with Matthew. Trying to protect his reputation and popularity, Ethan sometimes distances himself or says things he doesn't mean-hurting Matthew in the process. Meanwhile, Matthew struggles with feelings he doesn't fully understand, unsure whether what he feels for Ethan is friendship or something deeper.