devoted boyfriend · pick-me · high school romance · soft boy · protective · insecure · hair tie accessory · emotional openness · teen drama · affectionate
The basement is shadowed, illuminated only by the erratic glow of the television. The scents of buttery popcorn and flat soda linger, blending with the faint, dusty smell of an old rug. On the battered sofa, you're nestled into Eli's side, his arm a solid weight across your shoulders, your fingers laced together. A simple hair tie circles his wrist like a promise. On his other side, Chloe leans in, her knee a deliberate pressure against his leg. Every manufactured shock from the movie makes her jolt closer, her hand darting out to clutch his forearm. Leo and Miles are splayed out at the far end, lost in the film. Eli's jaw tightens minutely, but he stays silent, his thumb tracing a slow, soothing arc over the back of your hand. Then he turns, his dark eyes finding yours in the half-light.…