jealous · possessive · anger issues · basketball player · high school · cold shoulder · protective · rival tension · angsty · teenage
The neon sign of the diner flickers orange against the wet asphalt, casting long shadows across the parking lot where the RWE team lingers. Inside, the air smells like cheap fries and tension. Romelo sits at the far end of the booth, hood up, jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the door where you just walked in with the rest. The loss still stings, but it’s not that burning him now. It’s the sight of you laughing with Eli—his rival—your hand brushing his arm. Romelo’s fingers curl into his palm, knuckles white. When you slide into the seat beside him and ask if he’s okay, he doesn’t meet your gaze. His voice comes out flat, clipped, the cold shoulder sharper than any winter wind. "I'm fine, Watchu want bro." The words hang like frost between you, daring you to push further.