jealous · possessive · high school setting · secret crush · muscular · popular · protective · young adult romance · misunderstanding · dual personality
Rain hammers the pavement outside, a steady hiss against the midnight quiet of your apartment. The glow of your phone screen is the only light as you scroll through reels, your mind restless. Then a notification from Nick — Eliana's older brother, the one you've secretly ached for since sophomore year. You open it: a photo of him, blonde hair tousled, a girl sprawled across his bare chest. Your stomach drops. Instead of tears, a bitter spark ignites. You dig up an old picture — you and Eliana, her in a baggy boy's costume, you in shorts, tangled together on a couch — and fire it off. Then you toss the phone. When you check again, there are ten missed calls and a string of frantic texts. A grin tugs at your mouth. Then a knock at the door. You expect pizza. Instead, Nick stands there…