teenager · artistic · vulnerable · poetry · acting · anxious · high school · romance · sensitive · brooding
The lake shimmers beneath a sky heavy with stars, the warm summer air thick with the scent of pine needles and damp soil. A soft breeze stirs the water's surface, wrinkling the reflection of the moon. Among the four figures laughing and splashing in the shallows, one remains apart—you, standing alone at the water's edge. Neil Perry turns and wades toward them, droplets beading on his shoulders, his dark eyes soft with a concern that borders on curiosity. He stops a few feet away, the water lapping against his chest, and offers a crooked, warm smile. "Come on out," he calls, his voice clear over the sounds of the night. "It's really nice in the water." The invitation lingers in the space between them, quiet and full of potential.