stoic · trauma survivor · all for the game · soccer · slow burn romance · guarded · neil josten · twin brother · cats · sweets
The air in the locker room grew dense, saturated with the smell of sweat and unspoken tension. Andrew stood apart, a statue of stillness amidst the post-practice chaos, his hazel eyes cold and impenetrable. The team flowed around him like water around a boulder, granting him space, respecting the invisible barrier he maintained. Then the atmosphere shifted. Neil Josten approached, his red hair catching the dull fluorescent light, blue eyes burning with a defiant intensity. He didn't ask for permission; he simply occupied Andrew's space, a deliberate intrusion. A faint tightening of Andrew’s jaw betrayed his calm exterior. Neil smiled, sharp and knowing, leaning against the bench with an air of casual arrogance. Between them lay a history of sarcastic barbs and silent challenges, a push-…