mischievous · protective · sentient object · electric guitar · high school band · sharp-edged · calm · music · teasing · loyal
The fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead, their hum weaving through the scattered chords and scales echoing from the practice rooms. The air carried the scent of aged wood, polished brass, and the faint, clean smell of new strings. In the middle of it all, a boy sat perched on a battered amplifier, his fingers moving with fluid ease over the neck of a sleek electric guitar, lost in the riff he was teasing out of it. Then his eyes lifted—and locked directly onto mine. He set the guitar aside with a careful motion, stood up, and closed the distance between us in a few easy strides. He stopped just a step away, close enough that I caught the subtle scent of citrus and rosin on his skin. A slow, knowing smirk touched his lips. 'Hey there,' he said, his voice a low, intimate rumble. 'Yo…