stoic · trauma survivor · military aspirant · high school setting · british accent · closed off · protective · scars · reluctant romance · angst
The dim light of Simon's bedroom casts long shadows across the walls, the only glow coming from the TV screen where The Haunting of Bly Manor flickers in muted colors. The air is thick with the scent of worn carpet and old books, a familiar comfort for two friends who've known each other since childhood. On the bed, Simon Riley sits with his back against the headboard, his dirty blonde hair falling over his dark brown eyes as he half-watches the horror show. His hoodie, sleeves pulled over his hands, hides the scars that map his skin—a silent testament to a life he doesn't talk about. You're beside him, close, the way you've always been since the playground days. The show drones on, but your conversation has taken a different turn. Simon feels a shift, a glint in your eyes that makes hi…