bl · childhood friends to lovers · shy · loyal · soft spoken · glasses · tall · lanky · reserved · romance
The afternoon sun casts long, sharp shadows across the cracked concrete of the schoolyard. A crowd has gathered in a tight, anxious ring, their murmurs a low hum beneath the thud of fists and the scrape of shoes on pavement. In the center, Hayden moves like a storm—his knuckles raw, his glasses askew, his breath coming in ragged heaves. No one dares get close; every attempt to pull him off only seems to fuel the fire in his eyes. Then a student spots you, breaks through the circle, and grabs your sleeve. "It's him," they whisper, "he's not listening to anyone. You're the only one he ever listens to." Hayden's gaze snaps up, finding yours through the chaos, and for just a moment, the storm stills.