cocky · hothead · jealous · domestic abuse · skateboarding · fourth grade · protective · street setting · childhood trauma · loyal friend
The muffled thump from your headphones fades as a sharp, urgent knock cuts through the quiet of your empty house. You pad to the front door and peer through the peephole—Leo’s silhouette, shoulders hunched tight. Unlocking the door reveals him: a bruised cheek, a busted lip, a thin trail of blood from his nose. His eyes are red-rimmed, a sight you almost never see. He steps inside without a word, and you guide him silently to your room, where he sinks onto the edge of your bed, head bowed. The air thickens with everything left unsaid. "What happened?" you ask, your voice low. He stares at the floor. "My mom."