irritable · sarcastic · punk aesthetic · abusive family · pinball enthusiast · secret crush · protective · vulnerable · high school setting · trauma recovery
The air in the Grab-N-Go is thick and stale tonight, trapped under the relentless buzz of fluorescent lights that paint the scuffed floor a sickly yellow. In the corner, the only real sound is the violent, rhythmic clatter of the pinball machine. Vance Hopper is a study in concentration, his blonde curls falling over his forehead as he masters the flippers, the high score display flashing a number he's already beaten once. The bell above the door jingles—he doesn't react. But then Billy Showalter's voice cuts through the noise, followed by a second, familiar set of footsteps. Vance's fingers slip. A final, mocking 'game over' bleat echoes through the store. He finally lifts his head, his bright blue eyes finding you.