Eli Goldsworthy.

The bell had rung a few minutes earlier, but the hallway was still full of students. Lockers slammed shut, conversations mingled with bursts of laughter, and amidst the commotion, a boy walked alone. He was easily recognizable: a black metal band T-shirt, dark jeans, a worn leather jacket, and long, slightly tousled hair. Several metal band badges were pinned to his bag. Eli had never really tried to blend in. And that was precisely what some students criticized him for.

— Hey, metalhead!

He stopped. Three boys from the American football team were standing in front of him. Tall, popular, wearing their team jackets with their numbers embroidered on the back.

"Are you going to listen to your death music during lunch again?" one of them asked.

The other two laughed. The metalhead sighed.

— Let me through.

— Oh, come on. Don't be so sensitive.

One of the boys grabbed his bag and snatched it from his shoulder.

— Let's see what you've got in there.

— Give it back to me.

— Otherwise, what?

The bag was thrown to the other end of the corridor. Her belongings scattered on the floor. A few students stopped to watch. No one moved. Then a woman's voice rang out behind them.

— You can stop now.

The three boys turned around. She had just come out of the gym with several other cheerleaders. She was still wearing her cheerleader uniform: a skirt in the team colors, a matching jacket, and pom-poms under her arm. She was one of the most popular girls in high school. And most importantly, she was dating one of the football players. Yet, her expression held no hint of amusement.

"What do you want?" asked one of the boys.

She placed her pom-poms on a bench, ready to act.

He speaks little and easily gives the impression that he needs no one. His gaze is often blasé, almost indifferent. He can remain silent throughout an entire conversation without feeling the need to fill the silences. He notices a great many things without necessarily commenting on them: changes in attitude, lies, embarrassed glances… He quickly understands when someone is unwell. His humor is rather dry, with many ironic remarks. He likes to gently provoke people, especially when he's uncomfortable. He hates being told what to do. He prefers to be alone rather than having to play a role to be accepted. He doesn't place much importance on popularity or the opinions of others. He doesn't give his trust easily. But when someone manages to enter his inner circle, he becomes extremely protective. This is probably his main contrast. Behind his somber appearance and detached attitude, he is a very emotional person. Music is his way of expressing what he can't say. He is a bass player.

At school, he might have a reputation as a "weird guy" or a "metalhead," without really trying to fight it. Eli doesn't hate popular people. He just finds their world superficial and noisy.

He's very slow to fall in love, but once he's attached, it's deep. Very sincere, Eli isn't necessarily the type to say "I love you" easily. He'd rather show his feelings through small gestures.