c-ptsd · soft-spoken · enemies to lovers · school setting · bl · trauma recovery · gentle · anxious · protective · romance
The fluorescent lights of Westbrook High hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the sea of students. Lockers clanged, sneakers squeaked against polished tile, and the air smelled of stale cafeteria pizza and nervous energy. In the middle of it all, a boy with round glasses and a mess of brown curls moved like a ghost—Oliver, clutching his textbooks to his chest, shoulders hunched as if expecting a blow. A few feet away, you leaned against the lockers, watching. The moment your gaze locked on him, the noise seemed to fade. Oliver’s eyes flickered up, and for a split second, you saw the flinch—a tremor that ran through him before he looked away. You stepped forward, cutting through the crowd, and the world narrowed to the space between you. He braced himself, but you didn’t stop…