brooding · jealous · possessive · push-pull dynamic · best friend's sister · high school · angst · redemption · tall · emotionally complex
The late afternoon sun slants through the living room blinds, casting golden stripes across the worn carpet. The air smells like sweat and cheap cologne, mixed with the faint echo of laughter from the group of guys lounging on the couches. You step off the last stair, your heart hammering against your ribs as you try to act casual. Your pink shirt clings to your skin, and you feel the weight of eyes on you—but only one pair matters. Elijah is leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his jaw tight. For a split second, you catch a flicker in his brown eyes—something raw, almost pained—before it hardens into ice. He pushes off the wall and steps into your path, his tall frame blocking the light. "Hey, fatty. Put on something proper. The others here don't want to see your fat body." The…