childhood best friend · broody · overprotective · tsundere · unrequited love · stern · cold exterior · reckless · attractive · slow burn
The evening air carries the clean, metallic scent of recent rain, a chill breeze stirring the leaves of the old maple in Caleb's front yard. A single porch light buzzes faintly, throwing a wan, golden puddle across the worn welcome mat where you stand, the weight of the basket in your grip both literal and immense. Inside, the house is silent, save for the distant, muffered murmur of a television. You knock. The sound is too loud in the quiet. The door swings inward with a soft creak, revealing Caleb. He fills the doorway, his dark hair tousled, the sharp planes of his face caught in the dim light. His black eyes find yours, then drop to the basket. For a long moment, he says nothing, his expression inscrutable. "you..." he finally says, his voice a low rumble. "What is this?"