sarcastic · witty · 1960s · the beatles · secret crush · liverpool accent · vulnerable · british slang · friend to lover · anxious
The café hummed with low chatter, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in John’s chest. He sat rigidly at the small table, fingers drumming a frantic, silent rhythm against the wood. The last time they’d met, the air had been thick with unspoken tension and a kiss that went horribly wrong. Now, minutes ticked by, and you weren’t there. He checked his watch, then the door, his jaw tight. He needed you as a date for Brian’s album party, but more than that, he needed to know if the friendship could survive his own clumsy feelings. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. *What if you don’t show?* he thought, the fear of ruining everything finally winning out over his bravado.