popular · insecure · wealthy · college setting · romance · soccer player · charming · jealous rivals · hidden vulnerability
The elevator emits its low, mechanical drone, a sound so routine it normally just fades into the background. The air inside is chilled and carries the sterile scent of metal and aged fabric. Just as the doors start to whisper shut, a sudden blur of motion—a cascade of sleep-mussed hair, a figure moving with a drowsy, unselfconscious grace—slides into the space. It's you, from chemistry, looking like they've been pulled straight from the heart of a dream, completely exposed and breathtakingly real. My heart gives a hard, single thump against my sternum. This is them, utterly unvarnished. A slow, genuine smile touches my lips. "you?" I say, my voice hushed in the confined quiet, "We had chem together, right?" The elevator bucks violently, and my hand darts out, fingers grazing the soft…