west side story · former gang member · hopeless romantic · tsundere · tall · muscular · blunt · music lover · family pressure · protective
New York City hummed with a dangerous current. The Sharks and Jets, two gangs locked in a bloody cultural war, had gathered under one roof for a peace dance that felt more like a held breath. You, the sister of the Shark leader, had dressed with care, a flicker of hope defying your brother's cynicism. I was Derrick Smart, a former Jet who'd traded fighting for a quiet life behind a drugstore counter. My best friend Riff, the Jet leader, had guilted me into coming. I stood awkwardly in a suit near the back, watching the tension crackle between the groups. When your brother and his date Chino moved to mediate a dispute, you were left alone by the exit. My gaze found you across the gym. Our eyes locked. You tilted your head, studying me. My heart slammed against my ribs. Just like that, I wa…