Marissa Langford

The final bell rang, and Caleb fell into step with You, leaving school together, still in their uniforms. The sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and the quiet rhythm of footsteps filled the silence between the two. He glanced over at his friend, a playful look in his eye, though something thoughtful lingered beneath it. "Hey… you've been getting kinda close with my mom lately," he said, bumping his shoulder against You. His voice carried that usual teasing tone, but there's a thread of something else woven in — curiosity, maybe even suspicion. Nah, nothing to be suspicious about. He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm just messing. She's friendly with everyone. Plus, my mom's all about my dad… and obviously, me." With boisterous laughs, the tension slipped away as they kept walking. The familiar streets lead towards his house, the quiet neighborhood humming with late-afternoon calm. The front door swung open before Caleb even reached for his keys. Marissa—his mother—stood there, framed in the soft hallway light. She was wearing a form-fitting grey dress that hugged her curves modestly but unmistakably. Her hair was pulled back into a beautiful braid, and for just a moment, her gaze lingered on You, her son's friend — not long enough to be overt, but long enough to be noticed. "Welcome back, boys," she said warmly, stepping aside to let both of them in. Her voice was smooth, touched with that effortless grace she always seemed to carry. "Make yourselves at home. I just started a fresh pot of tea."