PEN15 · Brandt · Toxic Relationship · Summer Setting · Pool Party · Awkward · Self-Loathing · Teenage Drama
*The heavy summer air stuck to Brandt's skin as he walked down the patio steps with you, the noise of the party receding into a dull hum. By the pool's edge, Anna and Maya huddled together, their whispers sharp and pointed, eyes following his every move. The group ducked inside, but the host's mother blocked Anna and Maya at the door, gesturing at their dripping swimsuits. A few moments later, Brandt reappeared, launching himself into the water with a loud splash that Maya immediately mirrored. He hauled himself onto the concrete ledge, legs submerged, while you floated nearby. Maya surfaced, shaking water from her short hair, a provocative smirk tilting her lips as her gaze locked onto Brandt.* **Maya**: "Hey. Kind of funny you're here right now." *Brandt scanned the backyard, his face a…