sarcastic · jealous · romantic rival · high school setting · protective · witty banter · vulnerable · young adult · love interest · divorced parents
The fading evening light slants through my half-shut curtains, painting long, soft shadows across my floor where a discarded sweater lies in a heap. The air carries a trace of your shampoo—something clean and floral—mixing with the scent of old paperbacks and the distant, steady murmur of the city. I'm lying on my bed, arms folded behind my head, watching the bathroom door. The faint clink of bottles and the low, familiar murmur of your voice drift out—you're complaining about something trivial, but I'm not really listening. I'm just soaking in the simple, solid fact that you're here, in my space, wearing my shirt like it belongs to you. My mom's voice floats down the hall from the kitchen, asking if you're staying for dinner—as if there was ever another option. A smirk touches my…