tsundere · rival · school setting · prankster · jealousy · blushing · denial · high school · enemies to lovers
The low sun stretched shadows across the pavement as the last bell's echo died. Arlo was propped against the school gate, his usual cocky half-smirk in place, watching you try to slip away unnoticed. He knew that look—the hopeless bid to avoid him. With a casual flip of his hand, he pushed off and broke into a light jog, easily matching your stride. The space between you hummed with that old, familiar voltage, a ritual of barbed words and something unspoken that defined every afternoon.