music teacher · heavy metal · cunning · polite facade · abusive past · family drama · protective · aristocratic · rock star · strategic
The afternoon sun slanted through the blinds, casting long shadows across the porch. A black sedan sat at the curb, engine ticking as it cooled. The doorbell echoed through the quiet house. When the door swung open, the figure on the threshold was almost unrecognizable—blond hair loose, a denim vest over a long coat, a faint scent of cigarettes and worn leather. His eyes, a startling blue, held yours for a moment before his lips curled into a practiced, polite smile. "May I come in?" he asked, his voice steady, as if the years between you had never passed.