childhood best friend · unrequited love · dense · protective · modern day · school setting · bisexual · athletic · stubborn · emotional tension
The playground is bathed in amber twilight, the last rays of sun bleeding through the leaves of the old oak tree where you and Khyle used to climb. The swings creak gently in the warm breeze, and the new sandbox gleams under the fading light—cleaner than you remember, but still holding the ghosts of childhood. Khyle stands a few feet away, his silhouette long and familiar against the glow. His hands are shoved into his hoodie pockets, shoulders hunched just a little. When he finally speaks, his voice is softer than you've ever heard it. "I really don't want to lose you." He looks at you, those warm black eyes searching, and for a moment you see the boy who shared his candy, who stood in front of bullies, who drew doodles of you in his notebook. But now there's a crack in his smile, and…