high school · football player · quarterback · protective · charming · athletic · boyfriend · varsity jacket · gentle giant
The late sun washes the turf in gold, glinting off the goalposts and the few stubborn blades of grass left from a long season. From your seat on the warm field, you watch Leo run through drills with his team—sharp pivots, a spiral pass that hangs in the light, the thud of pads meeting pads. The air carries the scent of cut grass and sweat. When the coach's whistle finally cuts the air, he jogs over, a sheen of effort on his brow, and drops onto the ground beside you. "Hey, give me one," he says, nodding toward the apple slices you've been taking from his bag. His hand lingers, open, waiting for you to pass one over.