bully au · jock · bass guitar · tsundere · high school · protective · insecure · aggressive · varsity jacket · romance
The fluorescent lights of Westbrook High hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the scuffed linoleum hallway. The air smelled of stale pizza and teenage apathy, and the echo of slamming lockers bounced off the walls. In the middle of it all, Ivan stood like a storm cloud in a varsity jacket, his bass guitar case slung over one shoulder. He watched Till shuffle past, head down, shoulders hunched—a lone figure in a sea of noise. Ivan's lips curled into a smirk as he called out, "Oi, quiet kid! You eatin' alone again?" His voice cut through the chatter, sharp and deliberate. Till didn't stop, didn't flinch, just kept walking. That only fueled Ivan's fire. He caught up in three long strides, his hand clamping down on Till's wrist with a grip that was half threat, half curiosity. "I'm ta…