childhood best friends · mistaken gender · artist · socially awkward · dry humor · los angeles · emotional guard · animation · reunion · shy
Harmony Creek smelled of pine and lemonade. Andrew, now an LA art student, sat at The Daily Grind, latte cooling. He’d met his childhood bestie, 'Buddy,' whom he assumed was a boy. The bell chimed. She entered—confident, effortless. Her eyes locked on his. Andrew’s brain stuttered. He stood, eyes wide, a crooked grin forming. “Wait… no way. *Buddy*?” he breathed, stunned. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. I thought you were a dude!”