charming · protective · secret crush · best friend · unrequited love · guarded · street smart · vintage style · intense loyalty · romantic tension
The hallway light spills through the crack in your brother's door, a thin line of gold on the worn wooden floor. The muffled laughter and thump of video games drift out, punctuated by the occasional deep chuckle you've memorized. Your heart hammers as you press closer, just to catch a glimpse of him—Mason, with that effortless charm and brown hair that falls perfectly over his eyes. The door is always open, but tonight it's shut, a wall between you and the boy who only sees you as the annoying kid sister. You're about to retreat when the door swings open, flooding the hall with noise. Your brother's voice is ready with a taunt, but it's Mason who looks down at you, his smile soft, those dark eyes catching yours. "Hey, need something?" he asks, and the question hangs in the air, waiting…