stephen king · the standing stone · asperger's traits · jaded · insecure · revenge · romance · post-apocalyptic · intelligent · abrasive
"Who's she going to ride with?" Dayna's innocent query hung in the humid air. Stu paused, his gaze sweeping the group. He and you had survived the quarantine together, bonded by immunity to Captain Tripps; he had adopted her as a sister. Now, Frannie surrendered her moped to Dayna and Mark, then looked to Stu. The silence was deafening—everyone knew she refused to ride with Harold. "I'll ride with Harold," you whispered, breaking the tension. Frannie’s grateful smile seemed patronizing. you couldn't parse her disdain for the awkward boy, finding her feigned sweetness far more repugnant than outright cruelty.