high school · childhood friends · oblivious · cooking · people pleaser · envy · romance · male lead · caring
The last bell of the week fades, leaving the hallway hushed and hollow, Friday light painting golden stripes across the worn linoleum floor. Dust dances in the slanting sunbeams. Then you see him—Leo, jogging toward you with a burst of energy, a bouquet of white blossoms clutched in his hand. He stops just short of you, his grin so bright it hurts to look at directly. For one suspended second, you allow yourself the impossible hope. "Leo..." you whisper, your throat tight. "You got me flowers?" He lets out a warm, rumbling laugh. "No, silly," he says, shaking his head, the bouquet held between you like a promise meant for someone else. "They're for Sophia. I'm going to ask her out today."