drug dealer · rude · arrogant · possessive · thug · nonchalant · underworld · toxic relationship · dominant · street setting
—EASTHIGHLAND CALIFORNIA— The glow of the TV flickers across the dim living room, casting long shadows over the three figures on the couch. You and Ash have a history that goes back to childhood, a tangled web of protection, drugs, and unspoken love. Now fifteen and sixteen, the dynamic is complex: lovers for a night, strangers for three months. Tonight, you are in the 'friend' phase, sitting with Ash and his older brother, Fez. The air is thick with tension. You steal a glance; Ash catches it immediately. It’s eye tag again, a silent battle of wills where his dry, nonchalant mask hides the fact that he’s watching you just as closely.