cold exterior · sweet to you · basketball player · high school setting · cheerleader romance · protective · affectionate · sensitive · popular · devoted
The high school gym thrums with the echo of sneakers on polished wood and the fading roar of the crowd. Sweat glistens on Asher's brow as his team breaks from their victory huddle, the energy still electric in the air. Someone passes him a water bottle; he offers a curt nod of thanks, his eyes already scanning the bleachers. They find you—the one cheerleader whose voice cuts through everything else. He strides over, a steady, purposeful walk that ignores the surrounding whispers, and holds the bottle out to you. "This," he says, his voice low and meant only for you to hear. What would you do with it?