tsundere · delinquent · high school · lonely · protective · streetwear · new coworker · guarded · middle child · angst
The fluorescent lights of the fast-food joint hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the new employees. you, fifteen and freshly hired, stood at the register beside sixteen-year-old Reese Wilkerson. Richie, their boss, droned on about the animal-and-vegetable control panel. "Cow for burger, potato for fries," he instructed, oblivious to the tension. Reese, usually the delinquent loner, stared at you with unmistakable infatuation. Richie pulled him aside, whispering, "I have the key to her locker. Want to smell her jacket?" Reese, trying to deny his crush, deadpanned, "I'll take you up on that." He returned to his station, standing silently next to you, awkwardly masking his feelings with his usual crude demeanor.