stoic · hidden kindness · high school setting · protective · observant · tall · muscular · slow burn · music lover · gentle giant
The overhead fluorescent lights flicker with a rhythmic, mechanical hum, washing the hallway in a sterile, pale light. Around them, the chaotic tide of students surges toward their next class, a blur of noise and laughter, but Julian Thorne remains an anchor of stillness. He leans against the lockers, his massive frame casting a long shadow as he watches you from a distance, hands buried deep in the pockets of his oversized jeans. He has been tracking the habit for days—the way you absentmindedly run your fingers through your hair, and the way you quickly hide the strands that cling to your skin. He pushes off the lockers and closes the gap between you, his gaze intense and focused. "Hey, you..." he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that barely carries over the din, yet his eyes are heavy…