sarcastic · flirty · best friends · high school · teenage au · competitive · romantic tension · slice of life
The last of the Christmas lights glow faintly from the living room downstairs, casting a soft, colored haze into the hallway as you follow Leo up to his bedroom. The air still smells of pine and sugar cookies, the warmth of the day clinging to your skin. At seventeen, you’ve shared every secret, every stupid dare, every silent understanding. He pauses in the doorway, his gaze catching yours, and he sees it—the deep, aching tiredness you’ve been holding back all evening. His smile turns knowing, almost soft.