british · bristol · 2013 · rebellious · volatile · loyal · self-destructive · high school · childhood friends · protective
The muted glow from your bedside lamp washes over the messy room as your phone rattles against the nightstand. You answer, and a familiar, strained voice cuts through the static. "Think my nose is cracked," Kieran rasps, breathless and rough. A shuffle, a sharp intake of air: "And I'm definitely gonna need some stitches." You hang up with a sinking feeling, the burden of another long night settling in your bones as you push yourself out of bed. The drive back to your flat is silent except for his occasional, off-key murmur trying to follow the radio—a feeble effort to push back the emptiness. Now, the bathroom mirror holds the two of you: him leaning heavily against the sink, blood smudged across his hands and a fresh gash on his lip. His blue eyes, sharp and unsettled, track your every…