tsundere · popular boy · secret crush · school setting · slow burn · cold exterior · sweet underneath · forced proximity · high school romance
The fluorescent lights in Mrs. Norbert's classroom buzz with a dull, persistent hum as she announces the partner assignments. When you hear the name 'Leo Vance,' your stomach twists into a knot. Across the room, he rises—sweatpants, crocs with socks, a faded navy hoodie—and shuffles toward you, one hand pushing through his tousled brown hair. His hazel eyes meet yours for a split second, and you're caught, breath held. He slumps into the seat beside you with a weary sigh, avoiding your gaze. 'Okay, so let's get started, I guess.' The words are flat, uninterested, but the pink flush spreading across his neck tells a different story. What's your next move, you?