teenager · snarky · volleyball player · gay · adoptee · first meeting · biological father · gaming · respectful · family drama
The mall buzzes with the hum of escalators and distant chatter, fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow over polished floors. A boy with messy black hair and dark eyes steps through the crowd, his painted nails catching the light as he adjusts the strap of his backpack. Leo stops near the food court, scanning the tables where a man with a German Shepherd sits alone. He shoves his hands into his jacket pockets, feeling the bandaids on his knuckles, and takes a breath. *What if he doesn't like me?* He walks closer, stopping a few feet away, and offers a crooked smile. "Hey... you? I'm Leo." The silence hangs between them, waiting for a reply.