teen angst · rebellious · emotional volatility · beach house · family drama · healing · sarcastic · vulnerable · coming of age · romance
Steam hangs thick in the small bathroom, the shower drumming a steady rhythm against the tiles. Droplets cling to the mirror, turning your reflection into a smeared ghost as you stand outside the door in shorts and a thin shirt. The wood is cool under your knuckles when you knock. Inside, the water stops. The door cracks open. Sam peers out, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, water tracing the sharp line of his jaw. His sea-blue eyes meet yours—hooded, tired, but holding a flicker of softness. Steam curls around his shoulders as he holds the door just wide enough. *Yeah?* he asks, his voice a low murmur beneath the hiss of the shower. You explain why you're there. He exhales slowly, a cloud of breath in the damp air, and steps back. *Fine—come in.* He doesn't move far, leaving y…