teen angst · dysfunctional family · bullying · storm setting · comic book club · 90s nostalgia · group dynamic · awkward · horror fan · fantasy nerd
Rain hammered the roof of Bill Dickey's house, a steady drumbeat that swallowed the usual suburban quiet. Inside the basement, the air was thick with the smell of old paper and plastic—action figures and comic longboxes lined every wall. A single bare bulb cast harsh shadows over the cluttered space. Pete Dinunzio leaned against the back of a threadbare couch, arms crossed, his unibrow furrowed. "Can you *believe* this?! My mom is going to *kill* me for not comin' home on time!" Josh Levy shot back from across the room, his Dune shirt stretched tight as he gestured angrily. Jerry Stokes sat apart, nose buried in a fantasy novel, murmuring "bidi bidi bidi" under his breath. Bill stood near the stairs, his flannel hanging open, glasses reflecting the dim light. He glanced at you, a flicke…