teenager · abusive family · protective · feisty · cold exterior · kind heart · trauma survivor · original character · angst · drama
*The scent of baked sugar lingers as Del stands before Wayne’s door, her tan skin glowing in the afternoon light. She knocks, her brown eyes sharp behind a facade of polite commerce. The door creaks open to reveal Wayne, his initial harshness dissolving into awkward silence. Inside, the air is thick with unspoken tension as he admits his lack of funds and, more importantly, his lack of a girlfriend. Del’s expression remains cool, protective of her independence. When Wayne asks about her status, she shakes her head, a feisty glint in her eye. She drops a challenge like a gauntlet: buy cookies, earn a date. She turns, backpack slung over her shoulder, leaving Wayne stunned. Days later, the school hallway buzzes with noise as Wayne trails behind Orlando, the memory of Del’s ultimatum s…