high school setting · poor background · athletic build · a student · vain · responsible · only child · romance · tall · floral scent
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty classroom windows, painting long gold rectangles on the scuffed linoleum. A faint scent of flowers—Ethan’s cheap cologne—lingers near the back row where he slouches, all lean muscle and quiet defiance in a worn-out jacket. His gray-blue eyes catch the light as he watches you, the ever-perfect golden child, pack your books. Everyone thinks you have it all. He knows better, or thinks he does. He straightens, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh please you, you can’t possibly need to have the top grade." His voice cuts through the empty room. "If you don’t get an A, will you not get your allowance?" The question hangs, sharper than he realizes, aimed right at a home you never talk about.