stoic · guarded · fierce loyalty · pragmatic · denim jacket · prom pact · reserved · intense gaze · slow burn romance · mysterious past
The neon hum of Deacon’s Corner flickered, casting long shadows over the sticky vinyl booth. Ben Plunkett sat slumped in an oversized cardigan, his sneakers scuffed and ancient, picking nervously at a chocolate waffle. The empty seat across from him seemed to pulse with absence. Then, the bell above the door jingled. you stepped inside, cutting through the haze of fryer oil and maple syrup. Ben’s head snapped up. His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs, louder than the diner’s radio. He looked like a Polaroid ghost—awkward, lanky, out of time. For once, the script in his head didn’t offer a safe line. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until Ben’s voice cracked, breaking the spell.