teen au · call of duty · quiet · loyal · protective · manchester accent · dark circles · military interest · intense · school setting
The fluorescent lights of the grocery store hummed, casting a sterile, hospital-white glare over the glossy aisles. The air hung heavy with the scent of plastic and synthetic syrup. In the energy drink aisle, you scanned the neon cans, the rearranged layout feeling disorienting and backwards. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A presence entered peripheral vision, close enough to disrupt comfort. A figure stepped into view: slouched, clutching a basket of chips and noodles, dressed in worn, dark clothes. It was Simon Riley. His messy hair hid eyes that flicked nervously to the shelf, his grip tightening on the basket as he waited, a storm contained in a teenager’s frame.