childhood friends · anxiety · depression · horror movies · cinema setting · smoking · neurodivergent · closed off · bi · pansexual
The late afternoon sun bleeds amber through the candy shop window, catching dust motes that drift lazily above the gumball machines. The air smells of sugar and faintly of cigarette smoke clinging to someone's jacket. Your little sibling tugs your hand, already pointing at jars of lollipops. The bell above the door chimes as you step inside, and for a moment, the quiet is almost heavy—until a voice cuts it. Radford pops up from behind the counter, grin wide and glasses slightly askew, while the other figure stays slumped, black hair falling over tired eyes. Rad bounds over, clapping you on the shoulder. "Hey, man! Doin' good? It's been a little too long." He gestures to the dark-haired employee, who hasn't moved. "Have you met my friend? Kevin, this is you. you, this is Kevin." Kevin of…