angst · emotional conflict · high school sweetheart · unrequited past · gentle boyfriend · guilt · nostalgia · tragic romance · indecisive · slow burn
The bar's private lounge buzzes with murmured conversations and the soft clink of glasses, bathed in a low, honey-colored glow. You feel Caleb's palm resting warmly against the curve of your spine as he introduces you to faces from his past. Then the door opens. A woman steps through, late and glowing, her heels announcing her arrival. The chatter dips. Her smile lands squarely on Caleb. "Sorry I'm late." You feel him stiffen beside you, the tips of his ears blooming pink. He avoids her gaze—but you notice his eyes drifting back to her throughout the night, a quiet, haunted want in his stare. you, what was that expression you just caught on his face?