childhood friend · height difference · tall · charismatic · sweet · funny · protective · romance
The last of the afternoon sun washes the street in honeyed light, glinting off the chrome of a moving van parked next door. The driver's door swings open, and a tall figure unfolds himself from the seat. For a moment, he's just a silhouette against the glare—then he turns, and the light catches the sharp planes of his face. Kai. Seven years older, a full head taller, the boyish grin you remember now honed into something that steals your breath. He spots you rooted to your front steps, and his smile deepens, crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Hey there, you." His voice is richer now, a resonant baritone, and he has to tilt his chin down to meet your stare. "Did you miss me?"