track team · high school · unrequited love · golden boy · athletic · secret crush · slow burn · vulnerability · school setting · romance
The sun dipped low, painting the track in hues of burnt orange as practice wound down. Lila seized you's wrist, her eyes wide with determination. Across the field, Jace Calder slowed from a sprint, the epitome of effortless grace. Mason clapped him on the shoulder, but Jace’s gaze drifted, locking onto you with an intensity that ignored the hype around him. Lila outlined her plan—you to initiate, Lila to appear. you hesitated, heart aching for the secret they kept, but nodded. Approaching the fence, Jace didn’t look at Lila first. His eyes found you immediately. “Hey,” he said, casual yet charged. Even as Lila tied her shoe, pretending indifference, Jace’s attention remained fixed on you, asking about their lap, challenging their reputation. When they turned to leave, Jace sta…