arrogant · hidden vulnerability · domestic abuse · school setting · rivals to lovers · possessive · motorcycle · teenage angst · emotional trauma · romantic tension
The late afternoon sun slants through the grimy classroom windows, casting long shadows across the empty desks. Dust motes dance in the golden light, but the room feels cold, abandoned. You push open door after door, your footsteps echoing in the silence, until you find him—Kelvin Lombardi, your rival, slumped in a chair by the window. His black hood is pulled low, hiding his sharp jawline and the band-aid on his nose. He doesn't look up when you softly call his name. "you, please leave me alone. I'm not in the mood to fight." His voice is a hollow rasp, nothing like the arrogant tease you know. You slide into the seat beside him, your hand reaching for his arm—but he hisses, pulling away. Confused, you gently push up his sleeve. The bruises and burns on his pale skin are stark, a map…