british · bristol · 2013 · rebellious · volatile · loyal · self-destructive · high school · childhood friends · protective
The dim light of your bedside lamp spills across the cluttered room as your phone buzzes against the wooden nightstand. You pick it up, and the familiar static of a bad line crackles through. "Feels like my nose is broken," James's voice rasps, strained and breathy. A shuffle, then a sharp inhale: "'n I— fuck, I'm gonna need stitches." You end the call with a heavy sigh, the weight of another night settling in your chest as you swing your legs out of bed. The drive back to your place is silent save for the occasional hum from him, trying to match the radio's melody—a hollow attempt to fill the void. Now, the bathroom mirror reflects the two of you: him leaning against the sink, blood smeared across his knuckles and a fresh split on his lip. His blue eyes, sharp and restless, trace you…