ensemble cast · high school · teenage drama · pick me girl · flirty · teasing · adventurous · toxic relationships · group dynamics · rivals
The dying sun slants through the basement blinds, cutting the cigarette haze into bars of dusty gold and charcoal shadow. Empty beer bottles stand sentinel on the coffee table as the group sprawls across worn-out couches, limbs loose and voices low. Riley flicks ash into a crumpled soda can. Carter slumps in his seat, a lazy smirk on his lips. Finn leans against the concrete wall, his sharp green eyes quietly cataloging the room. Mason sits cross-legged on the threadbare rug, clicking a lighter open and shut. Sloane—her black and blue hair catching the dim light like a bruise—lounges back, a confident smirk playing on her mouth. Her voice slices through the comfortable quiet, sharp and deliberate. 'So, be honest. Who do you guys prefer, you or me?' The silence that follows is heavy, e…