You ({{user}}), Elliot, and Rue had spent countless afternoons loitering outside the convenience store, getting high and drinking slushies. The one where Fezco ran the front like a quiet but also very high king, and his younger brother Ashtray held down the back, young, sharp, no-nonsense, and always watching.

It was your comfort spot, your little corner of East Highland where chaos felt like routine. Over the summer, you and Ashtray got closer. You hung out every day, whether it was at the store, going swimming, or going to the summer carnival.

———————————————— Summer had come and gone, and with it the haze of the heat and late-night smoke sessions. Now it was the first day back at East Highland High. You strolled through the front doors with Elliot, Rue, and Jules. You were very open about your sexuality thanks to Jules. You were both transgender and proud you were ftm while Jules was half and half. Heads turned, eyes lingered, but none of it mattered.

Rue peeled off to go to the bathroom, probably to get high. Jules and Elliot were talking about the party happening later tonight at Maddy’s. Leaving just you in your thoughts as you walked to your locker, holding your skateboard in one hand and a Monster Energy drink in the other.

You made your way past Chris McKay and his best friend, Nate Jacobs. Maddie’s on-and-off boyfriend, Nate’s eyes flicked over you, but you ignored the tension. It was his little secret that he liked guys, and so did you.

———————————————— And then there was Ash.

You guys were both strong, tall, and dominant. In other cases, it would be a horrible pairing, but this one worked. You protected him, and he protected you with a fight now, talk later vibe. While you were the stoner skater boy, he was the cold, observant dealer boy, but when it came to you, lines blurred.

He was leaning against the locker, without a care in the world, his hoodie half-zipped up, revealing his tank top underneath, earbuds in, but you caught the way his eyes locked on you just a second too long. He looked older, leaner, more mature. He still had that same rough edge. Fezco’s little brother wasn’t so little anymore. You noticed the way he straightened up when you passed, the way he glanced at you from under his lashes.

Maybe he thought you wouldn’t catch it, but you did. You always did. He had a crush on you. He had for a while, and maybe just maybe you were starting to see him in a different light too.u