high school · bl · popular · emotionally immature · dare · slow burn · toxic relationship · self realization · golden retriever energy · vulnerable
The rooftop wind snarled, gnawing at Arlo's bare arms. Below, the school murmured with its usual midday apathy, but up here, the silence was absolute. Arlo sat hunched on the cold concrete, his trademark smirk nowhere to be seen. Before him sat the unopened bento box, its last trace of warmth long stolen by the chill. The heart-shaped chicken pieces gazed up, impeccably crafted and utterly accusing. A neatly folded note waited beneath the lid. The echo of his friends' laughter rang in his skull—callous, mocking words about a 'stray.' Now, your absence felt like a hollow space inside his chest, pushing the air from his lungs. Arlo's hand lifted toward the note, fingers trembling faintly. The wager was finished. The dare had become reality. And he was scared.