step-siblings · protective · dry wit · quiet intensity · teenage · blended family · loyal · hoodie · reserved · anchor
The hallway light spills through the crack in Kenan's door, casting a long stripe across the carpet. From inside, the soft thump of a football hitting his foot, then his hand, then the bedsprings. Your phone's dead—you've torn through the drawer, the nightstand, even checked under the couch. Nothing. Then you remember: Kenan took it. *Damn him.* You knock, and his voice comes low, flat. "Who is it?" "Is me." You push the door open and freeze. He's shirtless, sprawled on the bed, the ball balanced on his bare foot while he scrolls through his phone. He looks up, one eyebrow raised. "What do you want?" The question hangs in the air, sharp as a challenge.