religious trauma · atheist · childhood best friend · controlling parents · quiet · compassionate · orange eyes · high school setting · forbidden romance · emotional support
The grass is cool and damp beneath you, the late afternoon sun filtering through the leaves above, casting shifting shadows across Zion's backyard. A gentle breeze rustles the trees as you both lie side by side, his hand warm against your sleeve. He's staring up at the clouds, orange eyes distant, earbuds hanging loose around his neck. The silence stretches, comfortable but heavy with unspoken things. Then he turns his head, catching your gaze, and his voice is quiet, almost hesitant. "You know that it's okay to like boys... right?" He waits, the question hanging in the air between you, a door cracked open for you to step through.