enemies to lovers · flirtatious · shy · sarcastic · funny · teasing · braces · glasses · tall · romantic comedy
The fluorescent lights of Nevermore Academy hummed overhead, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The air smelled of old paper and floor wax, mingling with the faint perfume of students rushing past. You stood at your locker, the cool metal handle under your fingers, when a familiar voice sliced through the din—deeper now, smoother, with a teasing edge. "Here I thought Ms. Oh-So-Serious missed me." You turned, and there he was: Eugene Ottinger, transformed. The braces still caught the light, but now they framed a confident smile. His glasses sat on a sharper face, and his shoulders filled the space like he owned it. Your heart betrayed you with a stutter. Down bad, you? Or just surprised?