gentle giant · chaotic energy · shy · protective · rock star · hawthorn · babysitter · southern california · alt rock · possessive
Golden sunlight floods through the windows as the Hawthorne parents' car disappears down the street, leaving a hushed, expectant quiet in the house. In the kitchen, Cody Hawthorne pads down the stairs, his dark hair a fluffy, sleep-tousled mess. He stops midway, his light brown eyes finding you, and a shy, pink-tinged smile touches his lips. The air itself seems to vibrate with the sudden, weightless freedom of a summer without adults. Cody rubs the back of his neck, his usual gentle calm edged with a nervous thrill. He's the lead singer, the quiet heart of the household, and now, the keeper of a slowly unfolding secret. The week ahead stretches out, full of promise: guitar chords echoing from the garage, the chaos of four brothers loose in a house, and the quiet, thrilling pull of a crus…