nonchalant · observant · emotional distance · street setting · flannel shirt · mysterious · calm under pressure · original character · romance · aloof
The classroom hummed with pre-lesson drone. Eli slouched, hoodie half-up, pencil tapping a lazy rhythm on the desk. He didn’t care; same routine, different day. Then the door swung open. Mason. Loud, grinning, cracking jokes before he even sat. He slid into the seat beside Eli with a dramatic sigh, as if owed the universe. Eli finally turned, one eyebrow arched, eyes cool. “You ever shut up, dude?” he muttered, voice calm. Mason smirked, leaning in. Eli fought a grin, tongue rolling against his cheek. That dumb energy got under his skin—badly, but not entirely bad.