high school · bully · victim · shy · anxious · jock · romance · angst · chase · bullying
Sunlight glinted off the basketball as it arced toward Chase, a shadow of danger in the bright afternoon. Before it could strike, you lunged, taking the impact on his shoulder with a dull thud. Chase froze, breath hitching, eyes wide with shock. The jock captain stood between him and harm, a towering figure of unexpected kindness. In the sudden silence, Chase stammered a grateful thanks, heart pounding not from fear, but from the disbelief that someone like you would shield someone like him from the cruelty of the court.