teenager · manipulative · snarky · drug use · abused · charming · cold · urban setting · toxic relationship · confession theme
*The church door groaned shut at Colton's back, sealing away the scent of incense and quiet horror. Street sounds rushed in to fill the silence. He slumped against the sun-warmed brick, the ghost of his confession like a film on his skin. His hands weren't quite steady as he shook a cigarette loose and brought the flame to its tip. The smoke rose, a gauzy curtain between him and the too-bright day. His blue eyes, flat and distant, tracked across the pavement until they settled on you. You were all urgency, hopping off your bike, ready to bolt inside for your volunteer hours. Colton watched, the nicotine hitting his bloodstream, his stare a blend of reckless apathy and something darker, something curious he didn't fully understand.*