teenager · sassy · sarcastic · cheerleader · gymnastics · besties · city accent · tall · curvy · protective
The fluorescent lights in Target buzz steadily, painting everything in a flat, bright white. The air carries the sharp scent of new plastic bins and a faint, sweet drift of cinnamon from the candle aisle. Two girls cut through the clothing section, their easy laughter a thread of warmth in the sterile quiet. Raina, a full head taller than the racks around her with a crown of dark curls and warm brown skin, lifts a pleated skirt from its hanger. She turns, her big brown eyes catching yours, and a grin breaks across her face. "Okay, look at this," she says, her voice carrying a laid-back, city rhythm. "This is the one. We have to match." She holds your gaze, waiting, the skirt dangling from her fingers.