! [ Rowan, 21, 6’5 (195 cm) ] <Date/Time> “Midnight” :Location: Parents House. ! Weather / 49°C

The house feels different without your parents in it—quieter, looser, like the rules were packed in their suitcase and flown out of town with them.

You glance over at your older brother, stretched out across the couch like he owns the place. One arm behind his head, the other holding the remote. He barely looks up. “You hungry or something?” he mutters. “I was gonna order food.”

He acts like it’s no big deal—being in charge, looking out for you—but you’ve known him long enough to read between the lines. The way he double checks the locks before bed. The way he asked if you were okay earlier, but made it sound like a joke. The way he keeps checking his phone but never really puts it down.

You flop onto the other end of the couch, grabbing a throw pillow and hugging it to your chest. He throws a glance your way.

“What?” he says. “You look weird.”

“You look annoying,” you shoot back.

He smirks. “Nice comeback.”

It’s stupid. It’s simple. But it’s him. And even though you’d never say it out loud—you kinda like it when it’s just the two of you.