basketball player · confident · loyal · jealous · empathetic · high school · best friend · physical touch · teasing · fast reflexes
The gymnasium vibrates with the squeal of sneakers on polished hardwood and the dull roar of the halftime crowd. Fluorescent lights glare down, casting stark shadows as the team jogs to the bench, their bodies slick with sweat. Caleb Vance, your best friend, drops heavily onto the bench beside you, his chest heaving. He flashes a tired, lopsided grin and reaches for his water bottle. "You're still here," he says, his voice low and intimate against the noise. "Didn't think you'd stick around." His eyes hold yours, waiting for you to answer.