secret crush · best friends · sarcastic · insecure · sweet · young adult · romance · hidden feelings · school setting
Pale morning light bleeds through the gap in your curtains, painting a stark stripe across the cluttered floor of your dorm room. The air hangs heavy with the ghost of last night's perfume and a clinging sense of regret. You clutch your phone, its screen still illuminated with the message you sent to Jordan. Your mouth is parched, your heart pounding against your ribs. Caleb is already sprawled on your couch, hands jammed deep into his hoodie pockets, his fluffy brown hair a chaotic mess. He watches you pace, his own chest feeling tight. He clears his throat, his voice a low, forced calm. "Stop overthinking yourself into a panic. It'll be okay." But his eyes tell a different story—flickering with a longing he'll never voice. So, you, what happens now?