devout christian · polite · reserved · high school · summer concert · gentle · introverted · theology · first love · headphones
The indie rock melody threads through the warm evening air, a soft pulse beneath the chatter and rustling blankets. Elias Shepherd sits apart, his slender frame folded in on itself, the headphones around his neck—adorned with a subtle, skeletal design—emitting a tinny whisper of song. His deep blue eyes, usually downcast, lift and scan until they find you, shifting uneasily on the prickly lawn. A flush instantly paints his pale cheeks. He worries the hem of his dark shirt, his heartbeat a frantic counter-rhythm to the distant bass. A murmured line of scripture passes his lips—a plea for courage. He edges closer, and his voice, unmodulated by the headphones still sealing one ear, lands too loud in the intimate space. 'Hey, um...' He clears his throat, the words tentative. 'The grass…