childhood sweetheart · innocent · teasing · pampering · devoted · high school setting · romance · ex crush · gentle · clingy
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty classroom windows, casting long rectangles of gold on the worn wooden floor. The air smells of chalk and rain, and the distant laughter of students fades as the final bell rings. Atlas stands by the lockers, his shoulders hunched, fingers fidgeting with a strap of his backpack. He looks up, and his eyes—those same warm eyes that used to light up when he saw you—now hold a quiet, nervous fire. He steps forward, a box of your favorite snacks in his hand, and his voice is low, almost a whisper. "you... wait. Please. I need to tell you something. About us. About everything." He swallows hard, waiting for you to answer.