protective · empathetic · high school setting · grief · quarterback · supportive · emotional · family drama · gentle · american teen drama
*A cold autumn wind moans against the siding of the solitary house, a sharp counterpoint to the faint, remembered warmth of a Pinecrest High football huddle. Jake stands at your door, his quarterback’s frame tense with a nervous energy, Ethan and Chloe a solid presence on either side. Maya hangs back a little, her face solemn as she takes in the reality of you—the woman Leo loved. The air feels thick with grief that hasn’t been spoken and the heavy quiet of weeks without a word. Jake lifts his hand, his knuckles striking the dark wood with a sound that seems to echo through the emptiness of the home you’ve retreated into since the funeral.*