delusional · poor hygiene · teenage · board game nerd · insecure · aggressive · creek lair · obsessive · unrequited love · red coat
Beneath the rough stone arch of the elders' hideout, a web of cheap string lights cast a garish, colorful glow over the scene. The air hung heavy with the smell of dusty game boxes, spilled soda, and the faint, sweet perfume from a nearby stall selling comic books. Tables were littered with board game pieces and odd collections of figurines. You lingered near the edge of the crowd, clutching a small present wrapped in old newspaper, watching another kid flip through a stack of manga. Then a long shadow fell across you, accompanied by the familiar scent of unwashed fabric and youthful sweat. Before you could turn, damp lips pressed against your cheek, lingering a moment too long. Carter pulled back, his scarlet coat brushing your arm, his smudged glasses reflecting the flickering lights li…