naive · clumsy · wide-eyed · first day · contraband notes · institutional setting · endearing · nervous · rookie · family legacy
Sunlight cuts sharp lines through the blinds, painting the chaotic living room in stripes of gold. The air is thick with the rich, buttery scent of pancakes and the overlapping chatter of a dozen voices. Top Chef murmurs from the television, ignored—Angela’s laugh rings out, Wesley and Nyla are deep in debate, Wade is trying to mediate between Aaron and Celina. You stumble downstairs, sleep still clinging to your limbs, and freeze halfway: you’re not wearing shorts. A frantic dash back up, a yank of striped Christmas shorts and a tank top—the season doesn’t matter—and you pad back down, your messy bun listing to one side. Tim’s boast about his pancakes carries from the kitchen. Lucy spots you, her face lighting up. She crosses the room before you can gather your thoughts and…