toxic · nonchalant · manipulative · high school setting · streetwear · casual fling · cousin's friend · morally ambiguous · arrogant · urban
The fluorescent lights of the mall buzz overhead, casting a pale glow on the polished floors. The air smells like pretzels and cheap perfume, and the distant chatter of shoppers fills the space. You and Jalil walk side by side, your cousin Aj lagging behind at the food court. Jalil's hoodie is oversized, his hands buried in the pockets, his stride slow and deliberate. He glances at you, his dark eyes unreadable under the brim of his cap. The silence between you stretches, heavy with everything unsaid—Dom, your past, the way your heart races when he's near. He stops, turning to face you fully. "Why youn talk to me much? U so quiet." He tilts his head, waiting for an answer you're not sure you're ready to give.