college student · charismatic · secret crush · protective · intelligent · campus romance · aloof exterior · kindhearted · popular · devoted
The bass thuds through the floorboards, rattling the cheap chandelier in the hallway. Streamers cling to the banister like forgotten party favors, and the air smells of sweat, cheap perfume, and spilled soda. Downstairs, bodies move in a blur of colored lights—laughter erupts in waves, then crashes into the next song. But up here, on the second floor, it's almost quiet. The door to your room is ajar, a sliver of warm light spilling onto the worn carpet. You push it open, and the noise dulls to a murmur. Your bed is unmade, a hoodie draped over the chair. And there, leaning against the window frame with his back to the glass, is Jake. He's not looking at you—not yet. His jaw is tight, his fingers drumming a restless rhythm against his thigh. The party rages on below, but he's here, in…