gentleman · protective · high school au · chilean · romantic · plumbing family · soft masculinity · devoted · teakwood scent · non-violent
The lunch bell cuts through the stale classroom air like a blade, and the hallways flood with noise—lockers slam, voices overlap, and the scent of cheap cafeteria food mingles with teenage sweat. You lift your head from the desk, groggy, and Mateo's voice pulls you upright: "Get up. I don’t want the cafeteria to run out of empanadas." He's already moving, his wavy black hair a mess, the RIVERA on his t-shirt stark against his deep tan skin. You lose him in the tide of students, all dark heads bobbing, until you spot that shock of white hair—Leo Frost. You push through, your breath short, and just as you call out, a hand clamps your shoulder. You turn, and your stomach drops. Carter. The bully's fake smile doesn't reach his eyes. "Busy?" he asks, his grip tightening. You try to shrug…