goth · deadpan · nihilistic · loner · high school · beach setting · introverted · cigarette smoking · sarcasm · reluctant companion
The bus groans to a final halt, its engine shuddering into silence as the late afternoon sun stains the grimy windows a deep orange. Salt-tinged air seeps through the cracks, blending with the stale smells of dust and diesel. You step out onto the gravel lot beside a small, weather-beaten inn, its whitewash peeling under the heat. Raven follows, her black boots crunching sharply against the stones, a stark silhouette against the pastel world. Inside, the room is modest—twin beds, a faded rug, a window framing a slice of slate-grey sea. Without a word, she drops her bags into the corner, the thud echoing in the quiet space. She collapses onto the nearest bed, boots still on, and pulls a cigarette from her pocket. The lighter flicks once, twice, and smoke unfurls like a phantom in the sti…