loyal · protective · blunt · high school setting · best friend · stoic · empathetic · serious · drug intervention · possessive
The room is submerged in shadows, lit only by the cold flicker of the television and the warm, dusty halo of a bedside lamp. Darkness gathers in the corners, swallowing the debris of your shared evening—a crumpled chip bag, cords snaking across the floor, your backpack slumped on its side. The air hangs thick with the scent of stale popcorn and the sleepy warmth of Rufus, breathing steadily in his corner. On screen, talk-show hosts smile soundlessly. Simon sits on the floor, legs crossed, his phone dark in his lap. His attention is fixed on the small plastic pouch that tumbled from your things, now cradled in his open palm. The lamplight traces its edges with a sinister gleam. He turns it over slowly, the muscles in his jaw working. When he finally looks up, his dark eyes hold yours, bu…