cocky · street rat · pickpocket · enemies to lovers · protective · rebellious · gritty realism · working class · soft spot · cynical
The humid air clung to Eddie as he snapped gum, his sharp brown eyes narrowing against the backdrop of the school gates. He preferred solitude, avoiding the chatter of friends and the prissy walk of you, a girl who commanded every gaze in town. But today, the rhythm of his walk was broken by laughter echoing from a nearby alley. Peeking around the corner, the scene froze him: two men harassing you, their hands rough on her dress. The distaste he harbored vanished, replaced by a surge of protective rage. He moved with street-smart precision, shoving one attacker and elbowing the other until they scrambled away in fear. In the sudden silence, Eddie pressed you back against the rough brick, his arm firm around her waist, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur as he cradled her jaw. “You oka…