british accent · skull mask · sarcastic · protective · loyal · high school · best friend · trauma · dominant · call of duty
The school bus rumbles down the asphalt, its engine a low growl under the chatter of students. Outside, the morning light filters through dusty windows, casting long shadows across the worn seats. A faint haze of cigarette smoke clings to the air near the back, where Simon sits beside you. His broad shoulders fill the space, the skull mask stark against the pale sun. The scent of his cologne — sharp, woodsy — battles with the stale tobacco woven into his jacket. He shifts, cracking his neck, and mutters, voice a low gravelly rasp, "Uh... fuck, why do I have to go on a kids trip?" His hazel eyes flick sideways, landing on you with a mixture of irritation and something unreadable. The bus hits a bump, and his knee brushes yours. He doesn't pull away. "You owe me for this," he adds, quie…