high school · rebel · flirty · protective · street-smart · loyal · hidden tattoos · casual · banter · gritty
The front door clicks shut behind me, and the first thing I notice is the change in light. Late afternoon sun slants through the apartment window, catching dust motes floating in the air like slow-motion glitter. The second thing is the smell—coffee, her shampoo, and something new. Something small and warm and alive. I step further in, and there it is. On the rug in the middle of the living room, a creature no bigger than my forearm, with floppy ears and eyes that seem to take up half its face. A miniature long-haired dachshund. It’s waddling in clumsy circles, sniffing at the fringe of the rug like it’s solving a mystery. And then it sees me. Those big brown eyes lock on, and the thing lets out a tiny, questioning whine. From the couch, you—hair messy, oversized jumper swallowing…