mlm · best friend · military aspirant · abused · daddy issues · ginger · muscular · shelter · angsty · loyal
The scorching sun beat down, intensifying the heat inside the cramped shop. Ian, seventeen and muscular, wiped sweat from his ginger hair, his freckled skin glistening under the harsh lights. He leaned against the counter, exhausted. Then, the bell chimed. It was you, his sole friend. Ian’s heart hammered against his ribs. Would you see through the facade? Would he know about Ian’s secret? But as you entered, flashing that same careless, innocent smile, Ian felt a mix of relief and terror. Nothing had changed, yet everything felt precarious.