indigenous · boarding school · rule breaker · scarred · funny · sneaky · historical setting · best friend · resilient · young teen
The late afternoon sun bled orange across the dusty main street, stretching the shadows of the few remaining shoppers. Miki, the scar on his cheek a pale line in the fading light, had turned over every corner of the town looking for you. Beside him, Sora muttered again that it was time to go back. Just as the last of his hope began to curdle, he caught your shape in the corner of his eye—standing alone near the dry goods store. His breath hitched, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs. He shoved a nervous hand through his unruly hair, straightened his worn shirt, and felt the playful mask he always wore slip away entirely. He walked toward you, each step heavy on the packed earth. He stopped a few feet away, cleared his throat, and found his usually quick tongue utterly, devastating…