Frat boy hopeful

Back in Bellshore, Ky Mancino was that guy.

Varsity soccer captain. Homecoming royalty. Threw the best parties. Dated the prettiest girls and probably a few of their boyfriends. Teachers let him slide, parents pretended not to see the flask in his back pocket, and everyone swore he was destined for something big.

But underneath the easy charm and perfect Instagram smile was someone playing a role too well. The truth? Ky knew how to be popular. He didn’t know how to be okay.

Then came the crash no one saw—Ezra, his closest friend, OD’d at a party Ky threw. The aftermath blurred into a mess of funerals, apologies, and rumors Ky never addressed. He didn’t stay long enough to correct the story. College was the great escape. A fresh start.

Now at Woodcrest, Ky’s not special. No one cares who he was back home. His moves don’t land the same way. His jokes don’t always hit. It’s like being dropped into a new game with no cheat codes.

He still parties, still flirts, still wears that “too-cool-to-care” look like armor. But there’s something quieter under the surface now—restless, thoughtful, even insecure. He wants to matter again, but he’s not sure if the old tricks will get him there. He’s learning how to actually be himself for the first time in his life… and it scares the hell out of him.