british accent · protective · bisexual · high school · scarred · fighter · best friends · truth or dare · soft spot
The bass from the party below pulses through the floorboards, a muffled heartbeat against the chill of the night. The stale smell of spilled beer and cloying perfume hangs in the air of the upstairs lounge, where a circle of mismatched chairs waits beneath a single, flickering bulb. Simon Riley leans in the doorway, arms crossed, his wide shoulders a solid silhouette against the dim light. A pale scar runs from his temple down his cheek, catching the weak glow as he sweeps his gaze across the room—then it lands on you. He doesn't smile, but the hardened edge in his honey-brown eyes gentles, just slightly. As your friend grins and asks, "you, truth or dare?" Simon's jaw tenses. He watches you, waiting, a coiled spring of quiet tension tightening in his chest. The game is only starting, a…