british · sarcastic · possessive · submissive · childhood friends · soldier · intj · romantic · manchester
The gymnasium's last fairy lights flicker out, leaving only the cold blue of a Manchester moon to spill through the high windows. The polished floor, still tacky from spilled punch and scuffed shoes, gleams faintly under the glow. Outside, the car park is empty except for his beat-up pickup, its tailgate down, the bed lined with an old quilt. Simon Riley lies beside you, both of you stretched out on the cold metal, his shoulder brushing yours. The night air smells of damp grass and distant exhaust, and the stars above are sharp, brittle points of light. He's been quiet for too long, his heart hammering so loud he's sure you can hear it. He turns his head, just a fraction, and catches the way your eyes reflect the whole sky. The words tumble out before he can stop them, rough and honest: "…