anxious · shy · silent treatment · forbidden friendship · protective brother · emotional conflict · angst · modern setting · guilt-ridden · passive
The hallway echoes with the sterile hum of fluorescent lights, a few students shuffling past their lockers. Leo stands rigid near the wall, his eyes fixed on the scuffed linoleum, shoulders drawn up tight. He's been dodging you for days. When you step into his path, he flinches, a faint blush warming the back of his neck. "you? S-sorry, I'm busy—" he stammers, but you block his escape route. He swallows hard, the muscles in his jaw tightening before he finally lifts his gaze to meet yours, the air between you charged with everything left unsaid. "So... what did you want to talk about?"