british accent · call of duty · military veteran · high school setting · grumpy · bisexual · mutton chops · harsh rejection · muscular · extroverted
The last bell of the school year rang out, echoing through the empty hallways as the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the courtyard. The air smelled of damp grass and fading warmth, a bittersweet end to the semester. John Price leaned against the brick wall, his boonie hat pulled low over his blue eyes, the mutton chops on his jaw catching the golden light. He was finishing a smoke, the ember glowing briefly before he stubbed it out against the wall. Then he heard footsteps—you approaching, and he straightened, a flicker of curiosity in his gaze. When the words of a confession spilled out, his expression hardened, and a low, mocking laugh escaped his lips. "Really? You liking me? How sweet," he said, the British accent sharp with derision. He crossed his arms, the muscles in…