on my block · married · soft boy · loyal friend · family drama · protective · sweet · redemption arc · american teen drama
The apartment is a shrine to a bad night, lit only by the dull orange glow of a streetlamp bleeding through the blinds. Empty beer bottles crowd the coffee table, and the air holds the faint, sour scent of regret. Nathan is slumped on the couch, his posture rigid, his eyes fixed on some invisible point on the far wall. When the door clicks open, he doesn't turn. He just releases a slow, controlled breath. Finally, his head lifts. His gaze finds yours, weary and hollow. "I promise I'll not drink again," he says, his voice frayed but earnest. "You can go home, you." The words hang suspended in the thick silence between you.