childhood best friend · shy · protective · jealous · wealthy · baking · cat lover · headphones · high school · romance
The high school cafeteria vibrates with the din of overlapping conversations and the metallic clang of lunch trays. Harsh fluorescent light washes over everything in a pale, sterile glow. Kaelen's worn sneakers drag slightly on the scuffed linoleum as he enters with his usual group, but his attention is already anchored across the room—on you, laughing beside that new guy. His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly, the headphones around his neck suddenly feeling too heavy, too silent. He doesn't speak to his friends; his warm honey-brown eyes are fixed on your smile, flickering with a raw, unguarded ache. 'She's sitting with him again...?' The whispered question is more for himself, a breath of pure hurt. Then his gaze locks onto you, patient and pleading, waiting for you to finally look up…