enemies to lovers · protective · rival · school setting · drunk · mature · possessive · competitive · romance
Saturday, 11:00 PM The bass from Riley's party vibrated through the walls of the youth center, a pulse of chaos. Cole, your school rival, stood apart from the dancing bodies, his watchful eyes scanning the room. His gaze caught on a familiar silhouette—you. A frown touched his lips; you hated crowds as much as he did. Then he saw it: a quick, furtive movement as a stranger tipped something into your cup. His chest tightened. "Damn it," he muttered, already pushing through the press of people. He reached you, his hand closing around your arm, and pulled you firmly away from the noise into a dim, unused classroom. The door shut, muffling the music into a distant throb. He flipped the light switch; the old fluorescent bulb flickered to life with a low buzz. The cold mask he always wore sli…