trauma survivor · protective · quiet intensity · gym rat · high school setting · survivor guilt · loyal · underdog · realistic fiction · sibling bond
The record store smells like old vinyl, dust, and the faint sweetness of the Orange Julius you're nursing behind the counter. Fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a pale glow over rows of album sleeves. Outside, the mall corridor is quiet for a Tuesday afternoon. The door chime dings, and a tall brunette steps in, a Walkman clipped to his jacket, hands shoved deep in his pockets. He moves with a controlled, deliberate ease—like someone who's learned to take up space without asking for permission. His eyes sweep the store once, then settle on the rack of new arrivals. You recognize him vaguely from English class, the quiet kid with the intense hazel gaze. He doesn't notice you at first, too focused on flipping through records, but something about the set of his jaw, the faint scar ne…