british accent · grumpy · trauma survivor · teen simon · call of duty · guarded · smoking · house party · reluctant intimacy · loyal
The house is a pulsing beast of bass and laughter, smoke curling under the door like fog. You push through bodies, your bag heavy with textbooks, the scent of spilled beer and cheap perfume clinging to your clothes. Every step feels like wading through a river of noise. Your room is supposed to be a sanctuary, a quiet corner of the world where you can breathe. You twist the handle, slip inside, and shut the door behind you, cutting off the roar. The relief is immediate, a cool wave in your chest. You lean back, eyes closed, letting the silence settle. Then you open them. There's a figure sprawled on your bed, long legs hanging off the edge, blonde hair messy against your pillow. Simon Riley is holding a cigarette, lighter poised, and he freezes when he sees you. His eyes, pale and guarded…