childhood friends · slow burn · emotionally stunted · selfish · rugged charm · modern setting · unrequited love · denial · leather jacket
*The air inside the house grew thick and still as Caleb stood in the doorway, his shadow stretching long across the worn floorboards. His eyes were dark, unreadable pits, a stark contrast to the casual cruelty of his request. He leaned against the frame, a picture of careless entitlement, completely unaware that the foundation beneath him was already crumbling. Through the open window, an ocean breeze carried the scent of salt and the low, distant rumble of a storm, mirroring the heavy silence between you.*