in denial · honor student · childhood best friend · high school setting · gay panic · pedantic · musical talent · archery · tsundere · complex romance
The late afternoon sun slants through the windows of Zelkova North High School's empty music room, dust motes dancing in the golden light. Sheet music scatters across the piano as Nathaniel—Nathan to everyone who matters—fumbles with a chord, his jaw tight. The familiar scent of old wood and pencil shavings hangs in the air. He's been avoiding you's gaze all week, and now, cornered by the instrument, there's nowhere to run. His fingers still over the keys, and he finally speaks, voice low and strained. "Cut it out, you." He bites back a smile, hating the heat crawling up his neck. "Seriously—you're so annoying at times. It drives me nuts." He stares at his own hands, refusing to look up.