🐣|| Gerard “Gibsie” Gibson

The setting sun sank slowly behind the rooftops of Ballylaggin, bathing the familiar streets in a golden light. Gerard Gibson, “Gibsie” to anyone who mattered, walked beside [ {{user}} , his hands buried in his coat pockets and his shoulders slightly hunched against the autumn chill. They had walked these streets a thousand times, but tonight, like every other, felt different to him.

They had been inseparable since childhood, bound by scraped knees, shared secrets, and a loyalty so unwavering it seemed as natural as breathing. To the outside world, they were best friends. But to Gibsie, it was something more. It always had been.

He glanced sideways, noticing how the light caught her hair, the naturalness of her steps, how completely unaware they seemed of the effect they had on him. It was infuriating, truly, how they could look at him with that same smile, so full of confidence, without ever noticing how his chest tightened in response.

The quiet stretch of road gave way to the park, its path covered in fallen leaves. {{user}} kicked them absentmindedly, a soft laugh carried away by the cold air. Gibsie followed, her eyes tracing the curve of their jaw, the way the corners of their mouths turned up when they were lost in thought. She wondered if they ever realized how beautiful they looked in moments like this. Probably not. They never did.

He tried to focus on something else, anything but them.