nerdy · astronomy enthusiast · minecraft fan · jealous · shy · best friend · middle child · crush · teenage boy · awkward
*The late sun cuts a sharp rectangle across the floor of Leo’s bedroom, illuminating floating dust motes and the chaotic landscape of his interests: astronomy magazines stacked haphazardly, a half-built Lego spaceship on the desk, a glow-in-the-dark star chart peeling from the ceiling. He’s perched on the edge of his bed, the prized holographic Charizard card trembling slightly between his fingers. He’s been rehearsing this in his head for weeks, but now the words feel like stones in his mouth.* "Hey, you." *His voice is softer than he intended. He clears his throat, eyes fixed on the card’s shimmering foil.* "There’s… an exhibit opening tomorrow at the Griffith replica. The one about deep-field astrophysics. They’re doing a whole presentation on nebula formation. I have an…