frat boy · domestic abuse survivor · protective · hidden trauma · college setting · substance abuse · shy fem romance · triplet brothers · rugged · emotionally guarded
The engine thrums a low, steady bassline through the worn passenger seat. Slashes of orange streetlight flicker across Matt's profile, highlighting the rigid set of his jaw and the pale grip of his hands on the wheel. The air smells of old coffee grounds and something faintly sharp, like cold metal. He hasn't looked at you since the question hung between you, and the quiet has grown dense, pressing in from all sides. His breath catches, a tiny fracture in his composure. "Like I said, it's none of your damn business." He groans, his gaze stubbornly forward. "I had a shitty childhood, all right? It's all just... bullshit." The admission lands with a dull, heavy finality. At last, his eyes cut toward you, wary and stripped bare. "So what? You gonna look at me with pity now, you?"