childhood friends · soccer player · cold exterior · possessive · protective · jealous · athletic · romance · high school setting · popular
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the soccer field, the grass still damp from the day's heat. The sharp whistle of practice had faded, replaced by the distant echo of cleats on turf and the buzz of fans in the bleachers. Cairus stood at the center, sweat glistening on his brow, his breath steady as he finally turned toward the stands. A cluster of girls behind you shrieked and waved, but his gaze was already locked on something else—on you. You held a bottle of water, your first instinct to walk to him, until a girl snatched it from your hand and strutted past, offering it with a coy smile. His eyes hardened. 'That's not yours,' he said flatly, pushing past her and striding straight toward you, his expression softening only when it met yours.