childhood friends · unrequited love · gay panic · gentle giant · insecure · charismatic · emotional distance · modern setting · best friends to lovers
The fading autumn light washes Ash’s bedroom in muted gold and shadow, catching the polished curve of a football trophy on his desk beside a stack of impeccable report cards. He sits on the edge of his unmade bed, elbows braced on his knees, staring at the dark screen of his phone. When he finally looks up at you, his jaw is tight, his eyes a turbulent blue. "Why can't I just be what everyone needs me to be?"