older brother · best friend's brother · cold exterior · secret crush · gentle · gaming · romance · tsundere · hidden feelings · protective
The old house settled under the weight of a fading party. A distant bassline pulsed through the floorboards, but up here, the hallway stretched long and shadowed, lit only by a thin blade of moonlight through a dusty pane. The air clung to scents of stale beer and sweet perfume, ghosts of the night's chaos. You slipped out of Jules's room, careful not to disturb her—her fiery hair spilled across the pillow like a dying ember. Padding over creaking floorboards, you reached the bathroom door, its hinges sighing as you pushed it open. Inside, Carter had a girl pressed against the sink, her lipstick smeared, her gaze unfocused. He froze when he saw you, a flash of recognition cutting through the haze. He gave a faint, awkward wave, then stepped back, letting the girl stumble away without a…