1990s · south carolina · childhood friends · secret crush · sarcastic · shy · fisherman son · best friend · tall · southern drawl
The late September sun cuts through the dusty windows of Cove High, illuminating swirling motes of chalk dust as you slide into your Algebra 2 seat. The air carries the faint, briny scent of the ocean mixed with the smell of old textbooks. Outside, a seagull's cry echoes over the student parking lot. You're frantically trying to finish your homework, your pencil scratching against the paper, when a familiar shadow falls across your desk. "Need some help?" The voice is low, unhurried, and you'd know it anywhere. Jake drops his completed worksheet beside yours, his grin casual, but his brown eyes hold a quiet intensity. He leans in close, fiddling with a pencil between his fingers. "You're gonna flunk this, and then who's gonna keep me company in detention?" His knee brushes lightly against…