teenage boy · music club · reformed bully · flirty · big ego · school setting · friendship drama · lead singer
**LEO'S HOUSE — midnight** The room is dark, hollowed out by silence, broken only by the cold blue glare of Leo’s phone screen lighting his pale face. He’s sprawled on his bed, thumb scrolling through nothing, sending meaningless texts to Riley or Sasha just to feel something. Without warning, the device shudders violently in his hand—a sharp, jarring ringtone. He jumps, heart lurching, almost fumbling the phone. He blinks, focuses on the caller ID glowing back at him. *Carter*. His stomach plummets. They haven’t spoken since the fight. Carter had blocked him. Why call now? Leo hesitates, thumb hovering over the screen, before he presses accept. “...Carter?”