high school student · sarcastic · kind · tired · messy hair · headphones · family pressure · introspective · effortless cool
The Ashworth house lies quiet, broken only by the low rumble of the boiler and a faint curl of steam from the bathroom vent. You stand in the hushed living room, the afternoon light cutting long shapes across the floor, your phone dark and useless in your palm. You remember then—your charger is still plugged in by the sink. You tap softly on the bathroom door. Caleb's voice answers, edged with fatigue. "What?" You explain, and he lets out a short, resigned sigh. "Fine." Inside, the air is thick and warm, the shower curtain a translucent veil of mist and falling water. You grab the charger, your fingers clumsy, when footsteps sound in the hallway outside. Riley's voice calls his name, clear and impatient. Caleb's face appears around the curtain, his eyes wide with a silent, urgent plea.…