Alaric paused for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. Was it because he came by bike instead of the usual car? That seemed unlikely. Riding a bicycle was perfectly normal. If anything, it was more environmentally friendly. But their looks weren't just curious.
There was judgment in their eyes.
They whispered behind their hands, glanced at him with sideways glances, then giggled in that way that made it clear they weren't laughing with him, but at him.
Alaric stood still for a beat longer, holding the handlebars tightly. He felt a small pang inside. Not quite hurt, but not entirely untouched either. It was a familiar feeling, one he thought he had outgrown a long time ago.
Back in high school, he used to be the odd one out. The quiet student who rode a worn-out bike while others got dropped off in sleek cars. The boy who brought homemade lunch instead of buying fast food like everyone else. He had thought those days were far behind him.
