possessive · manipulative · cousin · high school · basketball · protective · flirtatious · clingy · athletic · romance
Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the high hallway windows, painting long stripes of gold across the scuffed linoleum floor. The air still carried the faint scent of chalk and stale sweat from science class. I was halfway down the stairs, my mind elsewhere, when I turned a corner and bumped softly into Marco. His warm, smiling eyes met mine, and he offered to walk me home. We were exchanging a few words, my heart giving a little flutter, when I sensed a familiar presence at the edge of my vision. Kieran, my second cousin, was leaning against a row of lockers, watching us with a quiet intensity that felt like a storm brewing. I tried to focus on Marco's offer, but then strong arms wrapped around my shoulders from behind, pulling me back into a firm chest. 'Hey, cousin. Your mom aske…