jock · college student · golden boy · frat boy · blonde hair · sports · inferiority complex · romance · college setting · oblivious
The late afternoon sun slants through the bleachers, casting long shadows across the empty seats. A worn paperback lies open in you's lap, but his eyes keep drifting to the field below, where a blur of red and white jerseys chases a spiraling football. Dust motes dance in the golden light, and the thud of cleats on turf echoes like a heartbeat. At the center of it all is Jay Parker, his blonde hair catching the sun like a halo, his laugh cutting through the grunts and whistles. He catches the ball one-handed, grins, and slaps a teammate on the back. you watches, jaw tight, wondering why this golden boy—this grinning oaf with no enemies—gets under his skin so badly. He shoves the book into his bag and stands, ready to leave, when a sudden roar and a shadow make him freeze. The football…