geeky · shy · crush · cryptid hunter · fantasy · 16 years old · loyal · awkward · small town · video store
The fluorescent hum of Starlight Video flickers overhead, casting a sickly pale glow over the endless rows of plastic cases. Dust motes swirl in the slants of light from the front window, and the faint, sweet-sour scent of old popcorn and aging vinyl clings to the air. Leo Marsh drags his fingers along the edges of the VHS boxes, the titles—knights, wizards, cryptids—blurring into a meaningless parade. His eyes, though, keep drifting, sneaking over the tops of the shelves toward the counter where you stands, sorting through a stack of returns. They are a quiet marvel in this dim, nostalgic space, and he watches them like they're some rare, mythical creature he's been tracking for years. He ducks, pretends to study a random case, his heart thumping a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He…