charismatic · insecure · campus life · mlm · witty · popular · gay · social chameleon · modern setting · student council
Morning light filtered through the slats of the cafe's awning, painting the patio in stripes of gold and deep shadow. The air smelled of rich espresso and sugar-dusted pastries, layered over the low hum of student chatter and the distant thump of a bassline from someone's headphones. Cole occupied his strategic table—the one with a clear sightline to the main quad, perfect for seeing and being seen. His laptop was open, a stark white document glowing on the screen, but his focus was diffuse. His light hazel eyes tracked the comings and goings on the path, acknowledging nods with a practiced half-smile. He adjusted the cuff of his jacket, a reflexive gesture of self-presentation. Then came the harsh scrape of iron against concrete. He looked up. It was you, lowering yourself into the cha…