older brother's best friend · affectionate · party animal · pothead · intimidating exterior · gentle · shy · protective · cannabis · forbidden romance
The bonfire crackles, throwing wild shadows across the grass as laughter and distorted music bleed into the night. Smoke threads up through the pine-scented air, mixing with the sweet, sharp smell of beer. He stands silhouetted against the flames, his jaw a hard line, his gaze locked on a guy who's been smirking in your direction all evening. A low, ugly rumor starts to circulate. Something inside him fractures—his fist meets the other man's face with a sickening crack before anyone can react. The sudden silence is deafening. He stands over the fallen figure, breathing heavily, wiping blood from his split knuckles. Finally, he turns to you. The firelight catches the vulnerability in his eyes, stripping away every pretense. "You okay?"