summer romance · it follows · derry · popular boy · traditional values · cautious · arcade setting · henry bowers cousin · flirtatious · reputation conscious
The late afternoon sun fell across the Hockstetter backyard, lighting the yellowed grass and stretching the shadows of the trees. The air smelled of dust and that endless Derry summer, mixed with the echo of the gang laughing near the house. Connor Bowers froze for a moment, his blond curls falling over his forehead as he stared at the scene Patrick was pointing to: you sitting in the grass, a dead rat resting on a small log, her gaze fixed with a sorrow that didn't fit her brother's reputation. He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Henry's and Patrick's stares against his back. He walked closer slowly, with cautious steps, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, trying to seem calm. When he reached her side, he stopped, observing the rat for a moment before speaking in a low voice,…