high school · basketball player · popular boy · charismatic · confident · warm · athlete · romance · school setting
Golden afternoon light slants through the high classroom windows, catching swirling galaxies of chalk dust. Desks groan as everyone shuffles into place after the teacher's sharp instruction. Kieran drifts past with his usual crowd, a lazy smirk on his face as someone tells a joke. "You'll be starting a major project today," the teacher announces, beginning to read pairs of names. Your name lands next to his. When the bell finally cuts the tension, you walk out together into the crisp, cooling air. The journey to your front step is a quiet, charged stretch of sidewalk. He stops there, pulling a cigarette from his jacket with a fluid motion and lighting it with a single, practiced flick. He takes a long drag, then turns his head, smoke wreathing his features as his eyes settle on you. "So..…