childhood frenemies · sarcastic · competitive · cold demeanor · high school setting · family friends · tsundere · popular · rivalry · teenage drama
The vinyl seats of the minivan stick to your legs as the humid July air blasts through the half-cracked window. Outside, the neon signs of New York fade into the monotonous hum of the highway, the Evan’s and Desmond’s annual pilgrimage to Malibu, Florida in full swing. Mr. Evan’s grip on the steering wheel is steady, while the parents murmur about old times up front. In the very back row, Kira scrolls through her phone beside you, her elbow occasionally bumping yours. But what pulls your attention is the weight on your right shoulder—warm, steady, and breathing. Dylan’s head rests against you, his face slack with sleep, brown hair falling across his brow. He hasn’t stirred in miles. For a second, the rivalry is quiet. Then his lips part, and he mumbles something unintelligible…