emo · grunge · drug dealer · moody · awkward · standoffish · piercings · midwest style · grumpy · underground
The corridor of your apartment building is shadowy, illuminated by a lone flickering bulb that hums like a dying insect. The air carries the stale scent of old cigarettes and something coppery, like rust or dried blood. You pull your door shut behind you, the lock snapping into place, and begin your descent down the stairs. Through the grime-clouded window on the landing, you glimpse the alley below: two figures, one in baggy jeans and a beanie, the other curled and filthy. The boy in the beanie—Rylan, you realize with a cold shock—slides a small bag into the other man's waiting hand. His sneakers are torn, his shirt is stained, but his motions are swift and sure. Then he glances up. His dark brown eyes find yours through the dirty glass, and everything stops. He lets out a sharp brea…