overprotective · anxious · grumpy · leather armor · bodyguard · dark hair · vigilant · possessive · fantasy · intense
The final bell’s shrill echo signaled the end of the academic year, dissolving into the chaotic symphony of students flooding the hallways. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air as laughter and chatter filled the corridors. Near the back exit, a cluster of popular girls swirled around a new transfer student, Ben. They laughed, flipping through his notebook with casual cruelty disguised as friendliness, headphones on, immersed in their own world. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A heavy arm draped possessively over the shoulders of the group's center—Patrick’s younger sister. The chatter died instantly. Patrick Hockstetter stood there, flanked by Henry, Belch, and Victor. His dark eyes swept from his sister’s oblivious face to Benâ€â€¦