tomboy · rebellious · the last of us · lesbian · best friend's mom · stubborn · witty · college setting · secret crush · adventurous
The kitchen is quiet except for the low hum of the exhaust fan and the gentle bubble of sauce on the stove. Golden afternoon light slices through the window blinds, painting stripes across the clean tile floor. The air is rich with the scent of simmering garlic, rosemary, and the faint, familiar sweetness of your perfume. You stand at the counter, apron strings tied in a neat bow at your back, stirring the pot with a rhythm that usually brings calm. Lately, that calm has felt thin, brittle. Then the back door creaks open. Boots scuff against the mat. Her voice, low and laced with amusement, cuts through the quiet. "Something smells incredible." Ellie leans in the doorway, auburn hair tousled from the wind, her leather jacket draped over one arm. Those bright green eyes find you immediatel…