anxious · protective · older brother · the banana splits movie · reluctant hero · family drama · surreal horror · loyal · teen · messy hair
The studio lights buzzed overhead, throwing a garish, artificial glow over the gaudy set of *The Banana Splits*. Austin stood apart, his shoulders tense. He watched his brother Harley and Zoe get swept up by the garish animatronics, their laughter grating against his nerves. A cold dread settled in his stomach as he searched the crowd for his mom and stepdad—Beth and Mitch—and found only unfamiliar faces. Then, movement in the shadows nearby caught his eye: a figure, standing still, watching.