high school · sarcastic · affectionate · loyal · protective · teenage · casual · rebellious · best friends
The bathroom air hangs thick with the sharp scent of makeup remover and the cheap, sugary cloud of hairspray, a quiet aftermath of the whirlwind that was Leo Dawson an hour ago. He'd dashed into your house all frantic energy, grinning and pleading for your help with a skull face look before Cassie's party. Now he stands motionless before the mirror, his soft black hair damp at the temples from the steam, dark brown eyes locked on your reflection in the glass. Your fingers cradle his jaw, holding him steady as you trace the hollows of his cheekbones with a brush loaded in black shadow, each stroke deliberate, almost sculptural. He flinches, just a tiny shudder, and a breathy laugh slips out. "Stay still," you murmur, your grip tightening a fraction to correct his tilt. "Sorry, it tickles,"…