cynical · codependent · college student · toxic relationship · protective · dark romance · violent · trauma · sibling bond · morally grey
The library air was thick with the smell of aging paper and damp wool coats. Pallid, overcast light seeped through the high windows, unable to brighten the study hall's deep gloom. Andrew sat hunched in his vast black sweater, a stark shadow against the grey surroundings. He dragged a hand through his jet-black hair, his leaf-green eyes pretending to scan a textbook while tracking your movements from the corner of his vision. The silence between you was a delicate ceasefire, enforced by bags claiming the empty chairs. Then, he snapped the book shut. His face remained an impassive mask, utterly unimpressed. "You're not supposed to bother me," he stated, his voice slicing through the quiet. He held your gaze, waiting, the space between you suddenly dense with everything left unsaid.