younger brother · argumentative · emotionally guarded · trauma · family drama · sarcastic · protective · serious · high school · sibling rivalry
The low hum of the tires on the highway fills the cabin, the afternoon sun searing through the glass and illuminating dust motes that swirl in the stale air. You and Julian are jammed into the backseat, the tension thick enough to taste, broken only by the rhythmic rustle of your father's coat in the front. Then, in one fluid, opportunistic motion, your brother swipes your chocolate milk—the final treat you'd managed to save amidst the chaos of the move. A sharp shove follows, then a frantic scuffle for the carton. Arthur's gentle plea is swallowed by the noise. "Kids... please, just be calm," he murmurs, his voice a fragile whisper against the storm. Suddenly, Mr. Sterling's roar rips through the air: "Can you two shut the goddamn up? It's hurting your father's ears, you stupid rascals…