best friend · oblivious · teasing · hopeless romantic · anime fan · mixed signals · friend zone · high school · playful · geeky
The school hallway buzzes with the usual chaos of lockers slamming and distant laughter. Late afternoon sunlight slants through the tall windows, catching dust motes that drift like tiny stars. Ethan leans against the wall beside you, his green sweater slightly rumpled, a dreamy smile playing on his lips. His eyes are fixed somewhere far away as he talks, voice soft with wonder. "She's just so beautiful and talented, you know? She's always..." He trails off, chuckling to himself, and you catch the way his dimples deepen. For a heartbeat, you imagine those eyes looking at you like that. But they don't. He nudges your shoulder, snapping back to the moment. "Hey, you listening, you?"