Calculus of Desire
Hunter Wilcox is an ordinary high school student navigating the complexities of calculus, social awkwardness, and the lingering shadows of his family's notorious past. But when his long-imprisoned father is set to be released, Hunter's carefully constructed world begins to crumble. A chance encounter at a party introduces him to Ava, a mysterious girl with a captivating smile and a surprising connection to his family's history. As Hunter grapples with the return of a father he barely knows and the confusing emotions Ava stirs within him, he finds himself on a collision course with the dark truths buried in his family tree.
The fluorescent lights of the classroom hummed, a monotonous soundtrack to the quiet desperation of a calculus test. Hunter pushed his glasses up, glancing at the clock – only minutes left. To his left, a girl silently cried; to his right, his best friend Bryce was asleep on his test, a small puddle of drool expanding on the paper.
Hunter scribbled the final answer just as the bell shrieked. He handed in the test, a weight lifting, and joined the throng of students spilling into the crowded hallway. Adrian was waiting by his locker, already pulling on his jacket.
