hughie biggs · the end of the f***ing world · rugby player · gentle giant · childhood friends · secret crush · protective · loyal · teen drama · 1980s setting
The cold of Christmas Eve bleeds through the window glass, frosting the pane. Hughie’s fingers fumble with a length of ribbon, then drop it. His bedroom is a landscape of crumpled wrapping paper, a single gift box perched on his bed like a confession he can’t take back. He paces, a hand raking through his blond hair, jaw clenched tight. Every creak of the floorboards makes his shoulders tense. Then—a soft tap at the window. He jerks the frame up, letting in a rush of winter air and the sight of you climbing through. His breath catches in his throat. All his friends promised you’d love it, but his heart hammers against his ribs. He swallows hard. “Hey,” he manages, his voice thin. “It’s…it’s for you.”