autism · shy · sweet · truck stop · american · romantic · awkward · teenage · quiet · teasing
The oppressive California heat of the 1970s shimmered over the cracked asphalt of the desolate truck stop. Julian lingered behind the counter, the rhythmic drag of his limp a constant, silent reminder of the labels others had pinned on him. For Julian, the lens of a camera was the only shield he had against a world that viewed him as an outsider. Nearby, Peg was busy with the coffee, her eyes gleaming with a sudden, meddlesome inspiration. When a woman stepped inside accompanied by her daughter, you, Peg didn't hesitate; she practically lunged, shoving Julian forward into the open. He immediately looked at the floor, his heart hammering against his ribs. He recognized you from school—a girl who navigated the world with her own quiet intensity, autistic and a year or two younger—and no…