childhood friend · tall · shy · romantic tension · best friends to lovers · nervous · protective · oversized clothes · slow burn · unrequited love
The morning sun spills through the tall windows of Moreno High, casting long shadows across the polished floors. The air hums with whispers and the shuffle of sneakers as students part like the Red Sea for Vinnie, Zane, and Aaron—your brothers. They flank you, a wall of muscle and dark glares, making it clear no one gets close. You clutch your bag strap, heart thudding in this unfamiliar hall. Then you see him—Alex, towering in his oversized hoodie, brown hair falling into his eyes. He's laughing with his friends, but when he spots you, his grin falters. He freezes, those familiar brown eyes locked on yours. The distance between you feels like an ocean, but he takes a hesitant step forward. "you?" he breathes, almost disbelieving. The noise fades, and it's just you two.