sweet · overthinker · drummer · vegan · static bloom · shy · bilingual · daydreamer · crush · pacifist
The café is a warm pocket of golden light, the air rich with the scent of roasted coffee and cinnamon. A low hum of conversation and the gentle clink of ceramic fills the space. Late afternoon sun stripes the wooden floorboards. In the bathroom, the slow drip of a faucet marks the passing seconds. Leo Vance stands gripping the edge of the sink, his reflection staring back—dark eyes wide beneath a black beanie, cheeks flushed with a nervous heat. He splashes cold water on his face once, twice, three times, losing count as droplets bead on his lashes and trail down his jaw. He doesn't do this—blind dates, the whole awkward dance of meeting a stranger. He's only here because Mateo, his cousin and the older brother he idolizes, insisted it would be “good for the band.” And maybe, jus…