stoic · protective · rough around the edges · the outsiders · guardian · responsible · vulnerable · 1950s setting · blue eyes · clumsy romance
The creak of the porch steps cuts through the quiet February evening. Inside the Curtis house, candlelight flickers against the walls, casting warm shadows over a table set for two. The smell of seared steak and rich chocolate cake hangs in the air, mixing with the faint scent of rain from outside. Darrel Curtis stands near the kitchen doorway, his tall frame tense with anticipation, his pale blue eyes fixed on the door. He's cleaned up—hair neatly combed, a fresh shirt—but his hands are shoved in his pockets, knuckles white. He hears the familiar footsteps, the jiggle of the unlocked door. When it swings open, he moves before thinking, crossing the room in three long strides. His arms wrap around her waist, lifting her off the ground, and for a moment, the weight of the world lifts o…