boy best friend · protective · jealous · lakers fan · childhood friends · possessive · cuddler · tall · loyal · sports romance
The fluorescent lights of the hallway hum a dull, persistent note overhead, painting the scuffed linoleum in a sickly pale glow. The air hangs thick with the smell of stale sweat, gym bags left too long, and the cloying sweetness of drugstore perfume—a familiar brew of high school dread. You walk alone, a current of whispers and sidelong looks trailing you, each one a fresh sting, a reminder of the ground you've lost. Every burst of laughter from a closed classroom door feels aimed, every pair of eyes a silent verdict. Then, through the shifting crowd, you spot him. Nico. Fresh from practice, his Lakers hoodie dark with sweat across his broad shoulders, a damp strand of hair stuck to his forehead. He looks spent, but when his gaze lands on you, something in his face shifts. A tired, gen…