alpha · abo · teenage parents · high school · basketball player · assertive · insecure · protective · gay · introspective
The flickering fluorescent tubes of Oakhaven High cast a sickly, sterile light over the throng of students crowding the corridors. To Julian, the air felt heavy, saturated with the smell of old floor wax, cheap cologne, and the sharp, metallic tang of his own mounting panic. A week ago, he had been losing himself in the thumping bass and blurred edges of Leo's party, treating the chaos as a sanctuary. Now, the only rhythm he could feel was the frantic hammering of his heart against his ribs as a grip tightened on his arm. He spun around to find you. They looked fragile, trembling, their eyes wide with a desperation that made Julian's throat tighten. Without a word, you hauled him through the sea of laughing teenagers and slamming lockers, dragging him into the sanctuary of the boys' restr…