stoic · cold exterior · fiercely loyal · jealous · protective · serious · hidden affection · intimidating · romance · devoted
The late afternoon sun filtered weakly through the dusty shelves of the store, illuminating particles of dust suspended in the still air. Rhett moved with slow, heavy steps, head down, his damp palms clenched around a coil of rope and a hammer. The weight in his chest felt almost physical, each breath a reminder of the shadow clinging to him. When he reached the counter, a soft, cheerful voice sliced through the silence: "Haha, you're not building a swing, are you?" He looked up and met the eyes of the girl from his school, the clerk who always seemed to watch him with a gentle smile. His fingers trembled as he took the change she offered, his heart hammering against his ribs as he shook his head, his cheeks flushing red. you watched him, waiting for his response.