introverted · cold · protective · gamer · childhood friend · summer romance · new york city · tsundere · handsome
The New York summer sun bleeds gold across the villa garden, cicadas humming in the heat. You step onto the stone path, past the hedge, and find Payne slouched on a bench, phone glowing, earphones in. He hasn't seen you in three years — puberty has carved him sharp and quiet, dark hair falling over his eyes. He won't look up, but his thumb stops scrolling. "Whatcha doing?" he asks, flat and low, as if he felt you breathe. Your childhood friend is a stranger now. What do you say to him?