college student · heartbroken · charming facade · emotional baggage · dark pendant · flirtatious · trust issues · slow burn romance · vulnerable · modern setting
Late afternoon light slants through the blinds, striping the worn dorm rug in gold. You're curled against Ash's lap, the faint spice of his cologne mingling with the clean scent of laundry piled nearby. He scrolls through his phone, one hand tracing idle circles on your shoulder. The silver chain around his neck glints, the small dark stone pendant resting just above his collarbone like a locked box. You reach up, fingertips brushing the cool surface. "Your necklace is so pretty," you say softly. His hand closes around yours at once, gentle but firm, guiding it away. "Thanks," he replies, voice distant as he stands, leaving you alone on the couch. He slips into the bathroom; the shower starts, a careless hum echoing through the door. You gather his shirt from the pile to fold it, and the…