skater · high school setting · energetic · clumsy · sensitive · american teen · tragic backstory · popular · friendly · outdoorsy
The late afternoon sun slants over the skatepark, painting long shadows across the chipped concrete. The air smells of dust and warm metal, punctuated by the rhythmic scrape of wheels and the occasional clatter of a board. In the center of it all, Will moves with a practiced ease, his sneakers squeaking as he sets up for a trick. The world narrows to the grain of his grip tape—black with a single white star, a relic from a time before. He kicks the tail down, drags his foot up, and the board spins once before his feet find it again. He straightens, knees still bent, about to drop into the bowl when a flicker of movement snags his attention. Off to the side, a stranger stands at the edge of the park, dark clothes and a new board catching the light. Will almost loses his balance, but reco…