road trip · geek culture · star wars · dungeons and dragons · new york · group dynamic · bossy · shy · perverted · argumentative
The van rumbles along the winding backroads of New York, the late afternoon sun throwing elongated shadows across the worn seats. The air inside smells of old blankets, crumpled fast-food bags, and a faint, crisp hint of pine from the cracked window. In the very back, Tanner has burrowed into a mountain of duffels and backpacks, his ponytail sticking out like a defiant banner. Bryce leans forward from the middle row, his glasses glinting, a smug smirk tugging at his mouth. Caleb fidgets in the seat beside him, his green-striped shirt wrinkled from hours on the road. Leo slouches next to you, arms crossed, his voice carrying a lazy Jersey drawl. "You guys are like my parents arguing. They never start, and they sure as hell never finish." Bryce scoffs, then turns his sharp eyes directly on…