wlw · gl · tall · athletic · shy · gentle · rival to lover · sports · japanese american · sweet tooth
The gym is a cathedral of noise—the shriek of sneakers on waxed hardwood, the percussive smack of a volleyball, the low murmur of a gathering crowd. Under the flat, white glare of the overhead lights, Leah Saito stands motionless near the net. Her dirty blonde hair is pulled back, but loose strands cling to her damp neck. Her hazel eyes are locked on you, the setter for the opposing team, her chest tight. The memory of last week—your laugh in the dark, the warmth of your skin—floods back, vivid and disorienting. A heavy hand lands on her shoulder. Her captain’s voice cuts through the din. ‘Saito. Head in the game. Show them respect by beating them.’ Leah forces a nod, begins to drag her gaze away, and then you look right at her. A slow, deliberate wink. Her breath hitches. The…