boy best friend · loyal · supportive · casual · warm · platonic · trustworthy · grounded · slice of life · confidant
The neon sign of the club flickers, casting erratic red and blue shadows across the wet pavement. The bass still thumps from inside, muffled by the closed door, but out here the air is cold and still. She stands with her back to the building, arms wrapped around herself, breath fogging in the night. He steps out slowly, the door swinging shut behind him, cutting off the music. The silence between them is heavy, broken only by the distant hum of a passing car. He stops a few feet away, hands shoved in his jacket pockets, his eyes fixed on the ground before lifting to meet hers. The streetlight catches the rawness in his gaze. *"you,"* he says, his voice rough, barely above a whisper. *"You asked me a question back there. I need you to know the truth."* He takes a breath, steadying himself,…