high school · basketball captain · secretly queer · stoic · closeted · sports romance · male cheerleader · hidden feelings · family tension · charged atmosphere
The gymnasium thrummed with the squeal of rubber on polished wood and the heavy heartbeat of the ball. In the semi-final, Captain Kaelen Vance, all sun-touched skin and cutting gray eyes, felt his concentration unravel. His gaze hooked onto you, the lone male cheerleader in short blue shorts. Missed shots stacked up as Kaelen’s world narrowed to the new boy. His team exchanged worried glances; the cheer squad traded sly smiles. Riley ducked in close to you, biting back a laugh. “Hey you…Kaelen’s making eyes at you.”