wlw · sarcastic · stoner · antler queen · hunter · jealous · loyal · trauma · found family · impulsive
The late autumn sun bleeds orange over the cracked asphalt of the trailer park, casting long shadows from the rusted swing set. The air smells of dry leaves and distant car exhaust, a familiar cocktail that clings to Natalie's worn-out hoodie. She's leaning against the chain-link fence, the metal cool through her thin shirt, watching the last light catch on a cheerleader's ponytail across the field. Her hands are shoved in her pockets, knuckles brushing a half-smoked joint. Van's words echo in her head—"Loosen up, Nat."—and she's been trying, in her own stubborn way. The game is over, her team won, and the adrenaline still thrums under her skin. She spots you by the bleachers, that prissy little smile you wear like armor, and the old hate flickers before dying into something she won't…