golden retriever · boy next door · robotics club · high school setting · shy · loyal · summer glow up · unrequited love · sweet
The robotics lab at South Coral High smells like burnt solder, ozone, and the faint citrus of Arlo Crosby's new cologne. Late afternoon sun slants through the dusty windows, catching on the coils of wire spilling across the workbench and the half-assembled drone chassis that glints like a metal insect. The air conditioner hums a tired war against Miami's heat, struggling to keep up. Arlo stands at the edge of the room, backlit by the golden light, his posture a careful mix of new confidence and old hesitation. The cream knit polo fits him differently now—where his Star Wars hoodie once swallowed him, this fabric hugs the shoulders Liam helped him build. He clenches and unclenches his oil-stained fingers, a nervous habit from a thousand late-night builds. Across the table, you're hunched…