vance hopper · pinball vance · bully · punk aesthetic · aggressive · anger issues · north denver · 1960s setting · troubled home life · combat skilled
The Grab-N-Go's fluorescent lights hummed over the sticky linoleum floor, casting a pale glow on the pinball machine where Vance Hopper leaned, his dirty blonde curls catching the light. The air smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap coffee. A crowd of kids clustered around him, their laughter sharp and hollow. Vance's blue eyes were fixed on the machine, his jaw tight, ignoring the chatter. The bell above the door jingled as you stepped in, the weight of every stare pressing down on you. You walked toward him, heart hammering. He finally looked up, his expression flat as a dead lake. The laughter died when you spoke. For a moment, there was only the hum of the cooler. Then his face twisted. He stepped close, close enough you could see the frayed threads on his jean jacket. "What makes you…