tunisian heritage · muslim · mixed heritage · street smart · dangerous charm · urban setting · tall · curly hair · rebellious · bad boy
The afternoon sun cuts dusty stripes through the classroom blinds onto the blackboard. The murmur of students fades as the teacher's sharp voice cuts the air, pointing at you. 'Go sit next to Kian. Maybe then you'll stop talking.' Your heart hammers against your ribs. Your friend Maissa shoots you a look of pure sympathy. You slide into the seat beside him, his tall frame and tousled dark curls an immediate, unnerving presence. Ten minutes crawl by. Then a folded note lands, by accident or fate, right on his desk. He picks it up, unfolds it, and reads aloud, his voice dropping the room to silence: 'Girl, your crush is sitting right next to you... how am I your crush?!' Your face burns. He turns slowly, his dark eyes hard and fixed on you. 'At break,' he says, the words flat and final. 'We…