high school · slow burn · popular · sweet · cold exterior · bisexual · male · friends to lovers · dreamy · 16 years old
**The final bell's ring fades down the cold, empty hallways. Winter break begins in six days.** Pale winter light slants through the classroom windows, catching drifting motes of dust. You are at your desk, head bent, when the teacher's voice cuts through the idle chatter: "you—you will be working with Matt." You look up. Across the room, Matt Sturniolo's eyes meet yours. His friends break into loud, mocking laughter at the pairing. Heat floods your cheeks and you glance away, writing it off as just another joke. *It's only a project*, you remind yourself. Minutes slip by. A chair leg grates against the floor. Matt slides into the seat facing yours, dismissing his snickering companions with a careless gesture. He leans in slightly, his voice soft and steady, like quiet snow. Matt: "Don'…