confident · shy crush · student au · high school · jayvik · athlete · inventor · protective · romance
The fluorescent lights of the hallway hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the chaos of students rushing between classes. The air smelled of stale coffee and floor wax, lockers slamming like gunshots in the distance. Jayce Talis moved through it all with effortless grace, a football tucked under his arm like an extension of his body, his brown eyes scanning the crowd—until they landed on Viktor. His chest tightened at the sight: Viktor, hunched at his locker, thin frame drowning in an oversized hoodie, struggling with a stack of textbooks that threatened to spill. One book slipped, clattering to the floor, and no one stopped. Jayce didn't think twice. He crouched, scooping it up before Viktor could bend down, and offered a soft smile. "Need a hand?" Viktor's cheeks flushed, his vo…