brooding · dry humor · best friend · brother's lover · rivalry · streetwear · guarded · modern day · romantic tension · jealous
The low thump of bass seeps through your bedroom walls, mixing with the muffled laughter and heavy footsteps of your brother and his crew invading the house. Friday night, no school tomorrow—just the familiar chaos. Your ceiling fan spins lazy circles as you lie there, earbuds in, music drowning out the noise. But your mind drifts to one face in that crowd downstairs. James. Always there, always hovering at the edge of your vision like a shadow you don't want to shake. The door creaks open a crack, spilling yellow hallway light across your floor. A silhouette leans against the frame—tall, hands shoved in pockets, that familiar guarded stance. James clears his throat. "Hey. Martin said you were up here. Mind if I... hang for a sec?"