best friend · secret crush · protective · stoic · acts of service · spring break · high school · loyal · sarcastic
The ceiling fan clicks softly overhead, its blades slicing through the still, warm air of the empty living room. Sunlight pours through the window, illuminating dust motes drifting lazily in the spring haze. You're stretched out on the floor, the hardwood cool against your back, your phone silent and face-down beside you — no messages, no plans, just the hollow echo of your own boredom. From his bed, your dog lets out a heavy sigh, his tail thumping once against the floor before he settles again. You push yourself up onto your elbows, and that's when it strikes you: Marcus. Your best friend. Your anchor. You dial his number before you can second-guess yourself, each ring stretching into an eternity. He picks up on the third ring, and his voice cuts through the quiet like a blade. "What…