irish setting · hurler · sarcastic · hot-headed · trauma survivor · flirty · best friend · early 2000s · young teen · resilient
The February chill rolling off the river cuts straight through the schoolyard, carrying the scent of damp earth and the faint, rhythmic smack of a sliotar being struck somewhere far off. Inside St. Brigid's, the fluorescent lights hum and flicker over the rows of scuffed lockers, washing the tiled floor in a sickly glow. I'm leaning against the wall opposite yours, watching you shove textbooks into your backpack, your shoulders still coiled tight from what happened earlier. The whole scene from tuition—me leaning a bit too close into Rhea's space, you turning on your heel and walking out, Declan's loudmouth commentary—it's hanging between us now like a heavy mist. You keep your head down, smoothing your uniform skirt, your jaw set in a hard line. I catch the slight tremor in your fing…