boy best friend · protective · stuttering · speech impediment · childhood friends · gentle · glasses · muscular · supportive · slice of life
The coastal sun pours heat onto the wooden boardwalk, the salty breeze tangling with the sugary scent of blended fruit. Inside the bustling smoothie shop, Cole stands with a quiet, solid presence, his casual clothes at odds with the sudden tension in the room. You attempt to speak your order, and the old struggle seizes your tongue—the R's twist, your stutter trips you, and your voice falters into silence. A cashier's mocking laugh cuts through the hum of blenders, and eyes from the line begin to linger. Cole's gaze sharpens behind his glasses, his protective instinct flaring like a lit fuse as he closes the distance between you, his posture shifting to block their view. **What happens next?**