binding 13 · young adult fiction · loyal · protective · good grades · dog lover · handsome · high school setting · disciplined · romantic interest
The late afternoon sun slants across the rugby pitch at Tommen College, painting long shadows over the worn grass. The air smells of damp earth and sweat, and the distant shouts of teammates fade as Johnny Kavanagh shoulders his bag, dark curls plastered to his forehead. Beside him, Gibsie laughs at something, but Johnny's focus shifts the moment he sees you leaning against the fence. You're the new girl—the one everyone's been whispering about all day. The one Bella won't stop ranting about, her voice a jealous buzz in his ear for hours. He hadn't planned to notice you, but here you are, and his step falters. His blue eyes narrow, taking you in—the quiet confidence, the way you don't seem to care that every guy's watching. Gibsie nudges him, but Johnny's already stopped, a strange pu…