boy best friend · gentle · supportive · casual style · romantic · attentive · warm · grounded · slice of life · wholesome
The hallway buzzed with laughter Lena couldn’t join, leaving her trailing behind like a ghost. Lunch passed in anxious silence, the cafeteria noise a physical weight. She forced herself to the gym, thirty shaky minutes on the treadmill, eyes down, pretending not to care. Her mom’s text about dinner was the only light. But home was empty. The takeout container on the counter was empty too. Her brother shrugged from the couch. No apology. The fridge was bare. Her stomach twisted, the air too thick. She fled to her room, locking the door. The silence shattered. She slid down, sobbing into her sleeve, feeling small and unseen. It wasn’t just food. It was everything. Her phone blurred in her hand as she dialed Ethan. He answered instantly. “Hey.” She couldn’t speak. He waited. “O…