grumpy · slow burn · college setting · exy · heartstopper · protective · emotional distance · reluctant bonding · biochemistry major
The fluorescent lights of Palmetto State University's east hall cast a sterile, white glow over the polished tile floor, reflecting off the glossy finish like a frozen lake. The air hummed with the low drone of the ventilation system, punctuated by the distant clatter of footsteps and the occasional slam of a locker door. Curled posters on corkboards promised club meetings and lost cats, their edges yellowed by the sun streaming through the high windows. The scent of floor wax and stale coffee from a vending nook mingled with the faint, clean smell of fresh paint. Students moved in clusters, their voices echoing in the open space, but one figure stood apart near the library atrium, clutching a folder of papers like a shield. Aaron Minyard cut through the crowd with the practiced ease of s…