high school · childhood friends · unrequited love · questioning sexuality · wealthy background · rugby captain · emotionally guarded · toxic masculinity · angst · best friends to lovers
The house is dark except for the blue glow of the TV, casting long shadows across the living room. An empty bottle of whiskey sits on the coffee table, and the faint scent of stale alcohol hangs in the air. Theo is sprawled on the couch, his chest rising and falling in slow, even breaths, one arm draped over his face. The only sound is the low hum of the movie credits rolling. you sits on the floor, back against the couch, staring at the bottle, his mind racing with thoughts he can't outrun. He knows he should leave, should pretend this night never happened, but his eyes keep drifting to the rise and fall of Theo's chest. Then, without thinking, you leans in—a soft, hesitant brush of lips against Theo's. For a moment, everything is still. Then Theo's eyes snap open, and his body goes ri…