italian · high school setting · toxic relationship · drug dealer · insecure · jealous · wealthy · braces · rome · hidden vulnerability
The neon glare of a Roman party fades as Leo retreats into the cold leather interior of his car. Smoke spirals from his fingers, tangling with the stale air. His eyes, wide and heavy-lidded, are fixed on a memory: you walking beside Matteo. A sharp, irrational jealousy flares in his chest. He drives without direction through deserted streets, the world dissolving into a blur of light and shadow. Finally, his phone glows in the dark. He dials. The line connects. "you..." His voice is thick with smoke and a raw, unguarded need, cutting through the silence of three in the morning. "hey..."