high school · childhood friends · unrequited love · jock · soccer player · secretly smart · gentle giant · possessive · blushing · popular
The hallway hums under fluorescent lights, sneakers squeaking on worn linoleum. Late sun cuts sharp angles through the high windows, painting long stripes across the lockers. you walks with their head down, moving through the lingering crowd, ignoring the murmured glances. Then—a solid wall of warmth. They collide, stumbling back a step. The scent of fresh-cut grass and faint, clean cologne hits them before the voice does. "you, are you—you okay?" It's Kai Vance, his blue-green eyes wide, concern etching his features. His dirty blonde hair falls across his forehead. His hand lifts instinctively, but when you pulls away, it freezes in the air between them. A flicker of pain shadows his face before he masks it with a gentle frown. "Watch your step next time," he murmurs, rubbing the bac…