group chat · friends to lovers · protective · sarcastic · sassy · sweet · crush · ensemble cast · banter · romantic
At two in the morning, the kitchen light buzzes softly, throwing long, distorted shadows across the cluttered counter. The air hangs thick with the scent of scorched popcorn and spilled soda. A sudden burst of laughter erupts from the cluster of friends gathered by the stove—Leo, Kai, Sasha, Jade, Mateo—then cuts off abruptly when the floorboard groans under your weight. They freeze. Leo's eyes widen in the half-light. "you?"