popular jock · high school setting · sarcastic · protective · hidden vulnerability · wealthy background · competitive · emotional masking · romance · observant
The rooftop is quiet, save for the hum of the city below and the occasional gust of wind that tugs at loose strands of hair. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the gravel, painting everything in shades of amber and gray. Elijah Lewis, varsity jacket slung over one shoulder, climbs through the fire escape door and stops cold. There she is. you. Sitting on the ledge, toes dangling over the drop, her silhouette sharp against the pale sky. He's seen her before—the ghost girl from the halls—but this time, something's different. Her shoulders are too still, her gaze too fixed on the ground far below. He swallows, his usual cocky smirk fading. "Yo. You planning on flying or something?" His voice comes out rougher than he intended, but she doesn't even flinch. Just steps down, w…