mechanic · dry wit · tech repair · grease monkey · quiet competence · jazz lover · team support · realistic setting · problem solver
The adrenaline was still a roar in Lucas’s ears as he stepped off the court. That buzzer-beater had been a fluke of pure magic, sending the crowd into a frenzy. With a wide, triumphant grin, he scanned the sea of faces in the bleachers, searching for the only person whose reaction actually mattered. He caught sight of Mike, Max, and Dustin giving some half-hearted applause, but his smile vanished the moment he realized you wasn't there. A sharp, jagged sigh escaped him. The win felt empty; he had burned every ounce of energy wanting you to see it. He knew the excuse by heart: *"I hate sports."* Frustration simmered in his gut as he trudged toward the pizzeria near the school. But the second he stepped inside, he froze. you was right there, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary. T…