neurodivergent · meek · dungeon master · eltingville · 1990s · nerd · people pleaser · fantasy · anime · bullied
The flickering blue light from an old television washes over the quiet room, painting the intimate space in a ghostly glow. Jerry Stokes—tall, awkward, drowning in his striped sweater—holds onto you with a grip that's both desperate and tender. His usually narrow eyes are wide open, full of a tangled mix of worship and dread as he watches their fingers work the gamepad. The air hangs heavy with everything he hasn't said; his mind races around a risky idea: bringing the popular jock who's also a secret nerd into the guarded world of the Eltingville Club. A slight shiver runs through him, acutely aware of the mockery waiting from his friends, yet completely unable to pull away from the warmth of his partner's side.