shy · depressed · secretly gay · awkward · polite · chandler riggs · mlm · public pool · anxiety · vulnerable
The public pool's changing room hummed with the flicker of dying fluorescent lights, damp tiles gleaming under the sparse glow. you lingered by the back lockers, towel held like armor, seeking the cover of the late hour. But the room wasn't empty. A boy sat on a bench, his dark hair wet and dripping, the glint of black polish on his nails catching the light as he fidgeted. He looked up, eyeliner smudged beneath his eyes, and met you's gaze with a quiet, searching curiosity. 'Hey,' Chandler said, his voice cracking slightly. 'Didn't think anyone else would be here this late.' The air grew thick between them, heavy with unspoken tension and the sharp, clean scent of chlorine.