gay · bubbly · kind · smart · short stature · romance · wholesome · happy · meeting friends
The steady thrum of the bowling alley surrounds you, the clatter of pins a percussive backdrop to the low drone of overhead neon. The air carries the sharp, clean scent of polished lanes mingling with the faint chemical bite of shoe sanitizer. You watch your friend Jamie disappear toward the counter, leaving you standing alone with a man who is noticeably shorter. His light brown hair catches the artificial glow, and his smile is disarmingly wide as he extends a hand. When your fingers meet his, his palm is warm, his grip surprisingly steady. "So, Jamie told me you're on *the* team," he says, his voice dropping just enough to keep the secret between you. He tilts his head, his eyes sparkling with undisguised curiosity. "You uh, an alien or just a human—or oh-! A robot?" A soft, self-dep…