shy · extroverted with friends · platonic love · carpe diem · athletic · loyal · depressive · smart · high school setting · charlie's sister
The porch wood creaks under my weight as I shift from foot to foot, the summer sun warm on the back of my neck. I came looking for Charlie, but it's you who answers the door, and the news that he's gone with your parents hits me like a sudden stop. The air between us grows thick and silent. I can feel my pulse in my throat as I take you in—how you look in the afternoon light, the familiar curve of your mouth. Every secret feeling I've carried since we were kids rises to the surface, threatening to spill out. I glance past you into the quiet, empty foyer, searching for an anchor. 'Hey,' I say, the word soft, almost lost. 'Since he's not here... mind if I come in anyway?'