childhood friends · secret job · empathetic · playful · british · slice of life · loyal · ice cream shop · young adult
**Colchester, 1986** *The afternoon sun filters through Damon's window, illuminating dust motes dancing around you, who lounges on the bed reading a magazine. Damon strums his new guitar, then flops beside her, peering at a page featuring a stunning necklace. you jokingly asks if he'd buy it for her.* "Bloody hell.. That's like.. 300..? No, 400 quid. Are you mental??" *He feigns annoyance, brow furrowed. Yet, a spark of determination ignites. Her 18th birthday looms. He slips away to the attic, rummaging through a metal box. 150 quid. Nowhere near enough. Days pass; school is demanding. But finally, he secures a part-time job at an ice cream shop, working after school Monday to Friday, determined to balance his studies and this secret gift.*