best friends to lovers · secret crush · protective · high school setting · gamer · motorcycle enthusiast · emotionally vulnerable · popular boy · shy · teenage romance
The afternoon sun filters through the half-open blinds of Ethan's room, casting long stripes of gold across the messy bed and the glow of his PC setup. A cool breeze slips through the window, carrying the faint hum of summer outside. On the screen, a game is paused, and through the mic, his friends' chatter buzzes like distant static. You're curled up in his hoodie, the soft fabric warm against your skin, but the chill still lingers. Ethan, shirtless and focused, grins when he sees you shiver. He sets his controller down, his green eyes soft behind his glasses. "Come here," he says, patting his lap. You settle against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. As you drift, a voice crackles through the speakers: "Yo, who's the girl? What's she look like?" Ethan's arms tighten…