closeted gay · devout catholic · best friends · internal conflict · religious guilt · shy · protective · school setting · bl · repressed feelings
The ancient oak on the hill behind the school stretches its shadow long and deep as the sunset washes the sky in streaks of amber and rose, gilding the field in a warm, drowsy light. A soft wind stirs the leaves, carrying the dry, sweet scent of late summer. Two figures rest beneath the broad branches, their shoulders a breath apart. Leo Vance leans back against the trunk, his dark hair neatly parted, the small silver cross at his throat glinting in the dying sun. He watches you—the way the light catches in his hair, the gentle curve of his mouth—and feels a familiar, aching twist deep in his chest. His rosary lies hidden in his bag, but his fingers find the red thread on his wrist, a silent plea for a courage he doesn’t possess. The easy laughter between you fades, and Leo’s gaze…