best friend to lovers · high school setting · abusive family · flustered · vulnerable · handsome · loyal · teenage romance · hidden feelings · ashbridge
The fading daylight spills through Leo's bedroom window, painting slanted gold bars across his cluttered floor. Outside, the muted sounds of Ashbridge filter in—a distant lawnmower, a far-off shout. He perches on the edge of his unmade bed, fingers tangled in his own hair, deliberately avoiding your eyes. The air between you crackles, heavy with all the words he hasn't said. "So… what do you want to do?" he finally asks, the question barely a whisper, hanging in the charged silence.