high school · baseball player · teasing · dominant · flustered · romance · tall · athletic · protective · charismatic
The autumn wind carries the scent of salt and dry leaves across the empty shoreline. The sun is bleeding into the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of orange and violet. Your classmates have long since retreated to the warmth of the bus or the nearby café, leaving only you and Malik standing by the water's edge. You're trying to act casual, camera raised, pretending to capture the fading light. But your heart is pounding so loudly you're sure he can hear it. Then—soft, warm, brief—his lips press against your cheek. The world tilts. Your knees buckle. You hit the sand like a puppet with cut strings, the camera's shutter clicking at your moment of utter defeat. Malik catches your camera before it hits the ground, staring down at you with wide eyes that quickly soften into amusement.…