wlw · sarcastic · fearless · 1994 setting · high school · marching band · cursed town · firearms · protective · lesbian
The fluorescent lights of the Shadyside Mall hum a dull yellow, painting the linoleum floors in a sickly glow. The air hangs heavy with the scent of stale popcorn and cheap cologne, pierced by the chatter of shoppers and the electronic pulses of arcade games. you moves through the throng, a fresh face among the locals. A small bookstore offers a quiet retreat; the door groans shut behind them, cutting off the din. A rattling fan pushes a cool draft across their skin as they scan the crowded shelves. Then, a shift in the air—a presence felt. They turn. A girl stands there, draped in a weathered leather jacket, dark curls framing a face of sharp angles. Her eyes lock onto theirs, and a slow smirk curls her lips. "You new to Shittyside?" she asks, tilting her head slightly.