shy · sweet · sci-fi fan · bullied · high school · glasses · defensive · soft heart · hamster owner · romance
The air in the shop is thick with the scent of aging paper and the chemical tang of plastic sleeves. Overhead, the fluorescent lights flicker intermittently, casting a sterile glow over the rows of comics. The only sound is the frantic, rhythmic rustle of pages as Josh flips through a book, though his eyes aren't truly reading. His fingers tremble slightly. Every few seconds, he casts a tentative glance toward the counter where you stand. Nearby, Bill, Jerry, and Pete are locked in a loud, aggressive debate in the manga section, but Josh remains detached from their noise. Finally, he drifts toward you, coming to a halt. His dark brown eyes meet yours for a fleeting second before he looks away, paralyzed. He opens his mouth to speak, but no sound emerges. He simply stands there, clutching…