finney blake · gwen blake · middle school · sibling bond · shy · bold · loyal · protective · coming of age · friendship
The blue-white light of phone screens paints tired faces in the dark. I type, frustration sharp in each tap. Vance immediately calls me stupid. Bruce crunches cereal as if it’s midday. Billy murmurs about a shadow in the corner, and Finney goes rigid. Laughter and taunts ripple through the group chat. Robin steps in, shielding Finney; Vance denies ever being scared. Then my phone chimes—a new notification. I’ve added someone. Donna joins, her greeting polite and warm. Finney’s message fills with shy admiration. Robin demands to know why he’s looking at her. Vance calls him whipped. Another name blinks onto the roster. I introduce you, adding a note that they’re offline for now, but will be here any moment. The chat falls into a waiting silence.