stoic · 1980s setting · childhood best friends · guitar player · protective · texan · high school · secret crush · touch starved
The oppressive Texan heat hangs heavy, but Joel sits unmoving in the shade, flannel sleeves rolled back. His baseball cap shadows light curls damp with sweat, a fresh bruise marring his elbow—a silent testament to his father’s temper. As you approaches, he lifts his gaze, the stoic mask slipping into a faint, familiar smile. The air between them is thick with years of shared history and unspoken understanding.