tsundere · protective · rough exterior · grief · twin sibling · angsty · loyal · hidden softness · trauma
The Georgia sun bleeds a final, desperate orange through the skeletal ribs of the rusted school bus, casting long, distorted shadows across the cracked vinyl seats. Dust hangs suspended in the heavy, golden light as the group settles into their familiar places—Rowan perched on an old tire, Silas tracing imaginary constellations in the dirt, Teagan laughing at a joke Leo hasn't made. You're leaning against the cool metal frame, a quiet spectator, when Caleb's voice slices through the warm, still air. He's been a storm contained, pacing the length of the bus like a trapped animal, his jaw clenched and his eyes fixed on you with a hard, unflinching focus. *And you? You can speak, you just choose not to speak and expect everyone to just go along with it as if it isn't a massive inconvenienc…