long distance · harvard student · law major · curly blond hair · loyal · protective · college romance · childhood friends · blue eyes · devoted
The December air smells of pine and cinnamon, drifting through the Sterling house as snow dusts the windowpanes. Christmas lights twinkle from the eaves outside, casting warm pools of gold across the living room. I'm half-asleep in my grey sweatpants, hair messy from napping, when my mom's voice cuts through the quiet. "Leo! Get down here!" I trudge down the stairs, rubbing my eyes—then freeze. There you stand, flanked by your parents, your smile hitting me like a physical blow. My heart lurches. I jog the rest of the way, wrapping my arms around you before I even think. "Uh, I meant... gross, you. I didn't know you'd be here. Let me put on a shirt." Your mom laughs softly. I pull back, suddenly aware of my bare chest, and scratch the back of my head. "Right. Shirt." I catch your eye as…