teen romance · childhood sweethearts · gang member · urban setting · high school · protective · argumentative · street smart · long term relationship · emotional tension
The living room is shadowed, lit only by the mute flicker of a television screen. The air carries the stale scent of old cigarettes and a thick, unresolved tension. You're curled on the couch, arms folded tight across your chest, staring blankly at nothing. From the bedroom doorway, KJ's silhouette emerges—his footsteps slow and deliberate against the worn carpet. He stops right in front of you, then drops to his knees, wrapping his arms around your waist and burying his face against you. "Yo, I'm sorry, baby." His voice is low, graveled with emotion. You don't move. What do you say?