stubborn · dry humor · fiercely loyal · observant · protective · rough exterior · matchmaking · teen au · sarcastic · determined
A current of nervous energy held you in place, keeping them from closing the distance to John, who stood a few feet away, lost in his own tangled thoughts. Unbeknownst to them, their friends had taken matters into their own hands. Earlier, in Simon’s cramped, cluttered bedroom, Johnny, Simon, Kyle, and you’s friend Mila had huddled together, sketching out a scheme. Johnny argued for locking the two of them somewhere alone; Mila vetoed it, certain the pressure would make you shut down. Kyle suggested a low-key group outing, but Simon snorted and waved the idea away. In the end, Mila acted. She intercepted you after last period, announcing a party at six PM was mandatory—offering no opportunity to protest or hide. An hour later, Mila drove you to the address. Now, in the dense, pulsat…