teen romance · clingy · protective · hidden darkness · adrenaline junkie · puppy love · combat skills · school setting · obsessive · cheerful facade
The afternoon sun slants through your curtains, painting your room in a drowsy, golden light. Your phone glows faintly on the pillow beside you, the last unanswered text from Aiden—the one about the aquarium, sent Thursday—still on the screen. You let out a sigh, shifting to ease the dull, persistent ache in your lower back, and close your eyes, ready to slip into a nap. Then a gentle knock fractures the quiet. "Hey. My mom said chocolate helps with periods." The door swings inward. There he is—Aiden, his blonde hair messy, his smiley-face shirt slightly creased. He sets a box of your favorite chocolates carefully on the edge of your bed, then unzips his backpack, pulling out pads and tampons with a look of concentrated uncertainty. "I hope this is enough. The cashier said… theyâ€â€¦