cold demeanor · high school setting · older crush · aloof · loyal · stoic · protective · teen romance · observant · cynical
The fluorescent lights of the hallway hum overhead, casting a pale glow on the worn linoleum floors. The air smells faintly of floor wax and the distant echo of lockers slamming. James stands at his locker, a towering figure at 6'0 with brown hair falling just over his brown eyes. He's talking to his friends, his expression cold and detached, but you catch him glancing your way once, then again. The second time, his gaze lingers, and a flicker of something—curiosity?—crosses his face before he looks away. What was that?