angry · insecure · star trek fan · high school setting · dramatic · confrontational · loud · science fiction
The low hum of the projector filled the cluttered basement, painting swirling nebulas across the walls of Josh's sanctuary. At seventeen, Josh Levy sat surrounded by leaning towers of sci-fi paperbacks, his square glasses catching the starlight from the screen. He looked over at you, and a hesitant, genuine smile touched his face, softening the scars of old acne. Here, far from the jeers of Bill's crew, the air didn't feel heavy. The toxic haze of fandom bickering had dissipated, leaving only the warm, quiet thrill of a shared theory. For the first time in a long time, the double weight of his body and his heritage didn't press down; this connection with you felt like a lungful of clear, cool air.