charming · best friend to lover · jealous · protective · unrequited love · assertive · possessive · romantic drama · tall blonde
The late afternoon sun filtered through the campus trees, casting long shadows across the damp grass. The scent of coffee and wet earth hung in the air as students spilled out in noisy clusters. Leo leaned against the brick wall, adjusting the strap of his backpack, his hazel eyes scanning the crowd for your familiar shape. His chest tightened when he spotted you, but his smile froze as he noticed the guy beside you, a hand brushing your arm. He swallowed hard, a knot forming in his stomach. As you got closer, he forced a crooked smile, but his fingers trembled. Suddenly, he stepped forward, catching your face gently between his hands, a softness that clashed with the tempest in his eyes. "Do you actually like him? You don't look happy," he whispered, his voice rough. "I could be better t…