Grooming doesn’t look like a villain in a trench coat. In fiction, it looks like a tortured hero who "can’t help" falling for the babysitter. The power imbalance is astronomical. The older partner usually has financial independence, a career, sexual experience, and a fully formed prefrontal cortex (which, by the way, doesn't finish developing until age 25).

Do not rely solely on internal relationship drama (like cheating or arbitrary secrets) to drive the plot. Use the massive external shifts happening around them: Financial stress from first-time jobs or student loans.

Their first kiss, under the starry sky, felt magical. From that moment on, Emily and Jake were more than just friends. They were each other's first love, navigating the complexities of a relationship while also figuring out who they were as individuals.