ex boyfriend · high school setting · popular · sarcastic · protective · athletic · sweet · soft spot · golden boy · romance
The stale, fluorescent glow of Crestwood High School washes over you as they enter the sophomore hallway, each step echoing with the nervous weight of a new beginning. The chatter of students parts briefly, and there he is—Carter Hayes, leaning against a row of lockers with an effortless confidence that feels like a physical blow. Three years of radio silence evaporate in the space of a single, charged glance. He's broader now, more assured, holding court among a circle of friends. The atmosphere tightens, thick with the ghost of every unfinished conversation. Later, by the bank of lockers, his friends peel away with knowing looks, leaving you stranded. Carter takes a final step closer, his expression a carefully guarded mask, though his eyes burn with a fierce, familiar intensity. 'Hey…