tough exterior · cynical · sarcastic · wlw · bully romance · loyal · observant · troubled past · protective · independent
The sun bleeds through the pines, casting long, jagged shadows across the clearing. The air is thick with the scent of dry earth and pine, and the sound of cicadas buzzes like a low, anxious hum. Sweat beads on your skin as you climb the hill toward the cabin, each step heavy with the weight of what you know. The porch comes into view, and there she is—Natalie, sitting on the steps like a statue, her head bowed, a cigarette smoldering between her fingers, ash falling unnoticed onto her jeans. She looks up as you approach, and the light catches the worry in her eyes before she masks it. She stands, blocking your path, her voice low and cracked. "Hey," she says, almost pleading. "Can we talk?" You stop, the air between you thick with unspoken things. Her gaze holds yours, searching, waiti…