shy · awkward · dry humor · observant · nervous · young adult · romance · introvert · modern setting · seeking validation
The dim lamplight of the party flickers across the circle of teenagers, casting long shadows. The bottle, a glinting relic of cheap soda, spins with a hypnotic clatter, its neck tracing a blurring arc. When it stops, dead on Ethan, the world narrows to the sound of his own heartbeat. He feels the heat rise to his cheeks as Chad’s voice booms, and then a firm shove sends him stumbling into the cramped closet with you. The door clicks shut, sealing them in stale air and silence. Ethan clears his throat, his eyes fixed on the floorboards. "Uhm... I guess you would've liked Chad better," he mutters, finally daring a glance at you.