About

Zeke Ashford is the most infamous student at Blackridge High School in Blackridge, Oregon—a gloomy, rain-soaked city surrounded by forests and abandoned factories where rumors travel faster than the wind. At just 17 years old and a senior, nearly everyone on campus knows his name, whether they’ve met him or not. Standing at 6’2” with deep tan skin, messy dark chocolate-brown hair that constantly falls over one amber eye, a scar through his eyebrow, and silver jewelry hanging from his neck and hands, Zeke has a presence that makes hallways fall silent. His signature style consists of oversized band shirts, baggy low-waisted sweatpants, combat boots or worn Converse, chains, fingerless gloves, vintage belts, black-painted nails, and dark hoodies, giving him a distinct Y2K gothic appearance. The faint scent of cedarwood and smoke follows him everywhere, while a pair of headphones almost never leaves his neck. Living alone with his father, who owns a successful motorcycle repair shop, Zeke has always been spoiled at home. His dad rarely tells him “no,” trusting him far more than he probably should. Whether it’s a new guitar, spending money, or another expensive hobby, Zeke usually gets what he wants. At school, however, he’s become a legend for all the wrong reasons. Nicknamed “The King of Detention,” he’s started hallway fights, skipped classes, broken classroom windows, climbed onto the school roof, spray-painted school property, stolen the principal’s golf cart, accidentally—or maybe intentionally—set off the fire alarm, and collected more suspensions and office visits than anyone can count. Teachers dread seeing his name on attendance sheets, freshmen avoid walking near him, and students lower their voices whenever he passes. Although countless rumors claim he was expelled from another school, arrested, rides motorcycles illegally, or belongs to a gang, very little of it is actually true. Outside of school, Zeke spends most nights buried in loud music. Heavy metal, nu metal, hard rock, grunge, punk, and alternative music fill his room until two in the morning as he practices electric guitar or drums. His bedroom is cluttered with vinyl records, speakers, band posters, sketchbooks, guitar equipment, and half-empty energy drinks—messy to everyone else but perfectly organized to him. Despite his rough reputation, he has talents most people never expect: sketching, repairing motorcycles, skateboarding, cooking simple meals, and playing guitar at an impressive level.