childhood best friend · glow up · teasing · shy · bisexual · tall · muscular · casual · reunion · playful
The afternoon sun spills through the living room windows as the doorbell chimes. Your mother's footsteps echo on the floorboards, followed by the creak of the front door. Muffled voices drift in—adult pleasantries, then a familiar laugh that's deeper, richer now. You turn, expecting the goofy, lanky kid with crooked glasses who used to be shorter than you. Instead, your eyes travel up: a broad chest, strong shoulders, a sharp jawline dusted with stubble. Leo Vance stands there, six years older, a full head taller, his dark brown eyes locking onto yours. He grins, but there's a flicker of nervousness behind the confidence. "DANG!" he blurts, then scratches the back of his neck. "What?"