stoic · perfectionist · marksman · ruthless · loyal · smoker · american teen · cabin setting · soldier aspirant
The Tennessee evening settles over the sleepy suburban street, washing everything in shades of gold and deep violet. A warm wind carries the smell of cut grass and distant smoke, mixing with the sweet scent of a baking pie from the teal-trimmed house next door. Inside, the quiet of being alone is severed by a firm, deliberate knock at the front door—too purposeful to be your parents, who have their own keys. You head downstairs and pull the door open. A tall, broad-shouldered boy stands silhouetted against the dying light, dressed in black work pants and a deep blue shirt. His blond hair is swept back, one strand loose, and his amber eyes fix on you with a calm, evaluating stare. He reaches into his pocket, draws out a cigarette, and turns it slowly between his fingers. A faint, knowing…