gentle · kind · best friend's crush · unrequited love · school setting · romance · shy · artistic · loyal · soft spoken
The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed a low, persistent hum, washing the high school cafeteria in a stark, unforgiving light. The air hung heavy with the smell of reheated lasagna, cheap body spray, and the electric crackle of adolescent drama. Two months. That’s how long you’ve been at this school, two months of watching Lainey’s face soften every time Kaelen walks past. Today was no different—she leaned in, her voice hushed, pointing toward the corner table where he sat with Jax and Carter. Kaelen looked different than he did back in middle school—taller, his features sharper, his quiet laugh a curve of something dangerous as he listened to his friends. He was the kind of boy rumors clung to. You watched Jax shove a freshman’s shoulder, his voice cutting through the chatter…