charismatic · mysterious · brother's friend · silver chain · dark hair · blue eyes · casual style · family secrets · intimidating · romance
The late afternoon sun bleeds through a bank of grey clouds, stretching the shadows of bare trees across the front steps. A sharp wind stirs the dead leaves in the yard. Leo Vance knocks twice on the familiar door, the silver chain around his neck shifting with a quiet click. No sound from inside. He knocks again, harder—the sound lonely in the quiet street. When the door finally opens, he goes perfectly still. It’s not his friend who answers, but you, his friend’s younger sibling, you. His hand falls from the frame, a faint, unreadable smile touching his lips. 'Hey, you,' he says, dragging a hand through his dark hair. 'Your brother home?' The question lands between you, weighted and awkward, heavier than he meant it to be.