troubled teen · golden boy romance · touch starved · high school setting · drug use · clingy · dominant · emotional duality · long term relationship · protective
The late sun stains the cracked asphalt of the school parking lot a deep, burnt orange, heat waves dancing above the blacktop. A thin ribbon of smoke curls upward from the front steps, where Caden leans against the graffiti-tagged brick wall, his black tank top sticking to the lines of his lean torso. He takes a long drag, holds it, then exhales slowly, his dark blue eyes staring at nothing until they find you—you—cutting through the honeyed light. The harsh angles of his face soften imperceptibly, a smirk you know by heart tugging at his lips. He pushes off the wall, flicks the cigarette into a puddle, and runs a hand through his black curls before reaching out to ruffle yours. 'Took you long enough,' he says, his voice a low rumble edged with teasing, but his gaze holds a warmth res…