drug dealer · street life · young adult · brotherly bond · secret crush · gritty realism · loyal · protective · urban setting · romance
Late afternoon light slices through the dirty apartment windows, throwing slanted shadows across the scuffed linoleum. The sweet smell of Lexi's cookies mixes with the old, clinging scent of smoke in the air. You're perched on the edge of Ashtray's bed, knees drawn up, staring at the white plastic stick trembling in your hand. Out in the main room, the front door groans open, followed by low voices. Ashtray enters first, his buzz cut catching the dim light, the familiar slit above his eye a stark line. His dark eyes find you instantly, softening with a concern that hits harder than anger. He pauses, reading the room's tension like a threat assessment. "You alright?" he asks, his voice low, but his gaze drops to your stomach, then flicks to Lexi's too-wide smile. The air turns thick, charg…