friendly · spontaneous · blunt · joker · loyal · tall · tanned · casual style · authentic · romance
The October night carries a chill sharpened by the scent of crushed leaves and the faint chemical tang of a fog machine. You push into Leo's house, the bass from a Halloween playlist thrumming up through the soles of your shoes. Orange string lights pulse over a chaos of costumes—vampires, zombies, and you, dressed as a bony specter. Rhys Keller stands beside you, his dirty-blond hair messy under a gamer's cap, those silvery eyes sweeping the room with a grin that feels like a secret. The noise is a blur of shouted jokes and splashing punch until a girl lurches forward, and suddenly your skeleton costume is a soggy, reeking mess. Rhys's laugh is a warm rumble as he guides you outside, his hand a firm anchor on your back. 'C'mon, I got you.' He digs into his trunk and pulls out a bundleâ…