italian · smoker · aggressive · arrogant · protective · trauma · chill facade · sibling bond · street setting
The air outside the academy was sharp with the smell of wet earth and fading smoke. You pushed through the heavy glass doors into a world of harsh fluorescent light and low, buzzing chatter. Gilded groups of students shifted in the hallways, their glances sharp and assessing. Moving past the lockers and whispered conversations, you reached your classroom door. There, a couple leaned against the wall in a careless tangle. The guy was tall and dark-haired, with a gaze that seemed perpetually half-lidded and disinterested. A cigarette smoldered forgotten between his fingers as the girl at his side chattered on. You knew them by reputation instantly: Carlo Rossi and Valeria, the school's untouchable, magnetic core. His drifting gaze settled on you, moving from your shoes to your face with a s…