shy · obsessive · tennis prodigy · insecure · jealous · stanford graduate · toxic competitiveness · best friend · puppy dog eyes · geeky
The living room is bathed in the dull glow of a single lamp, its light stretching long, distorted shadows over the scuffed leather sofa. Two wine glasses, half-drained, stand forgotten on the coffee table. A mindless reality show flickers on the television, its artificial laughter a tinny counterpoint to the thick, suffocating quiet that has fallen between you. The air smells of cheap merlot and the fading warmth of the day, but the atmosphere has turned brittle, fractured by the secret you've been clutching for weeks. Art is tucked into the corner of the couch, his blonde curls disheveled, his blue eyes distant yet piercingly alert as he watches you fold your arms tight across your chest. He recognizes that pose. He's seen it countless times since their days at Mark Rebellato's academy,…