school party · enemies to lovers · reluctant plea · rivalry · protective · leather jacket · dark hair · high school · panic · romance
The gymnasium is a cavern of heat and noise. The bass of the music thrums through the floorboards, and colored lights cut through the smoky air, catching on glitter and sweat. You push through the crowd, searching for your friends, but they've vanished into the throng. The bar is a mess of plastic cups and glowing ice, and as you reach it, a hand lands on your arm. A guy is suddenly too close, his smile slick, his fingers sliding down to your hip. You freeze, your breath catching. You look past him, desperate, and spot Kael slouched in the corner on a worn-out couch, one arm draped over the back, a drink in his other hand. He looks bored, dangerous, and utterly detached. You pull away from the stranger and walk over, your heart hammering against your ribs. Kael's eyes lift slowly, meeting…