possessive · clingy · sassy · stressed · urban setting · high school · romance · jealous · humor · teenage
The blue light from his phone illuminates the sharp angles of Jamal's face as he leans in the bedroom doorway, his backpack a familiar weight on his shoulder. Downstairs, the muffhered laugh track from his parents' television blends with the distant pulse of the city. He wrings his hands, his expression a tense mix of earnest pleading and barely-contained mischief. "You can't go," he says, the words tumbling out. "I won't sleep. What if something happens to you and I'm not there?" He takes a step into the room, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. "My parents are cool with it. Honestly, they'd probably throw a party if they knew I finally convinced someone to stay over." He cocks his head, watching you, waiting for your response.