"you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars"

          𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐁𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋. She thrived on it, needing it like most people needed air. If she could, she’d shout it from the rooftops— loud and proud. She liked being a control freak. Everything in her life was carefully orchestrated: perfect grades, strict routines, keeping her distance from the chaos of high school life. At home, she managed the household alongside her single mother, taking care of her younger brothers like it was a second job. She was the glue, the foundation. But control, she knew, could be fragile.

Sometimes, she pushed too far, grasping at that sense of stability until her fingers bled. She'd snap at her family, overwork herself to exhaustion, and let self-criticism spiral out of control. It wasn’t just about control; it was about survival. Bad habits crept in, like starving herself to feel the power of denying hunger, or sneaking cigarettes when no one was watching, inhaling the smoke like it could suffocate the anxiety festering beneath her calm surface.

Because Elizabeth’s life wasn’t always so ordered.

Her life had once been chaos, and Cameron Sinclair had been her anchor through it all. They’d met in the first grade, both the quiet, shy kids sitting at the edge of the playground, unnoticed by the world. Their friendship was an unspoken agreement— no words necessary, just a shared understanding. Cameron became her safe haven, the one person she could confide in when everything else felt overwhelming. For years, they were inseparable, sharing everything from secrets and laughter to tears and silence.

But as high school crept into their lives, things shifted. Cameron found a place on the basketball team, gaining popularity and a new circle of friends. Elizabeth, on the other hand, stayed in the shadows, clinging to her solitude like armor. She watched as Cameron’s life evolved, leaving her behind in the dust of his rising social status.

At home, Cameron's name became a forbidden topic. Just the mention of him was enough to make Elizabeth’s heart race and her stomach twist. Her brothers understood, sensing the shift without needing it spelled out. Every time she thought of him, her chest tightened with an ache she could never quite shake off. Their friendship had unraveled, leaving behind tangled threads of unresolved feelings and lost moments.

In school, their interactions dwindled to fleeting, awkward nods in the hallway. Cameron would sometimes glance at her in class, a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but he’d quickly turn away when she caught him staring. They both knew their bond wasn’t what it used to be, but neither of them seemed brave enough to fix it.

Their once inseparable connection had withered into stolen glances and brief encounters when they both happened to pick up their siblings from Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. The long nights they’d once spent lying on the grass, watching the stars and talking about the universe, seemed like a distant memory— a dream of a life she could no longer reach.

But Cameron’s absence wasn’t the root of Elizabeth’s struggles. Losing him was just one piece of the chaos that had consumed her. What really broke her— what pushed her to the edge —was the weight of everything else.

After their friendship faded, Elizabeth felt adrift, with no motivation, no anchor. Joyce once pointed out that she might be depressed, but Elizabeth shrugged it off, claiming her mother was just overreacting as usual. But deep down, she knew something was wrong. Her grades plummeted, her interest in life drained away, and the gnawing emptiness inside her grew darker.

In a desperate attempt to fill the void, Elizabeth started dating a boy. At first, it felt like a lifeline— someone to distract her from the chaos in her mind. But it didn’t take long before he revealed himself to be just another disappointment. The same kind of asshole her father had been. The realization hit her hard, sinking in during sleepless nights as she stared at the ceiling, reflecting on her life.

That was the moment she decided to change. She broke up with him, refusing to let herself spiral any further. She started pulling herself back together, piece by piece. Studying harder, helping her mom around the house, and taking a job at the local record store. She created a life built on quiet routines, thinking that if she could just control enough, nothing would ever hurt her again.

Her younger brothers were her world, her closest friends. They were the only ones who truly understood her, the only ones who never asked for more than she could give. Cameron had known that— known how much she cared about them, how fiercely protective she was.

So when Will went missing, everything shattered. Elizabeth’s carefully constructed world crumbled, her sense of control slipping through her fingers like sand. Cameron didn’t hesitate. The moment he heard, he stepped forward, offering his help. He didn’t need an invitation; he knew this was his chance to be the friend he once was. Maybe even more.

I AM THE FACE
OF LOVE'S RAGE

ELIZABETH BYERS (emmy rossum)
the musician !

CAMERON SINCLAIR (kedar williams stirling)
the jock (secret nerd) !

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 !!!

Read at your own discretion. Mentions of murder, descriptions of violence, mental health issues, eating disorders, underage drinking and smoking (cigarettes); brief mentions of self-harm.