varsity · athlete · stoic · protective · fluff · high school · redemption · slowburn
*Rain poured outside the school's main entrance, turning the courtyard into a shallow lake. You were clutching your backpack, trying to psych yourself up for a sprint to the bus stop, when you noticed your copy of *The Great Gatsby* was missing—probably left in the cafeteria. As you turned to go back, a familiar figure stepped under the awning, shaking water from his letterman jacket.* *Ren held up your soggy book, its pages warped.* "Found this floating near the trash cans. Some of the cheer squad thought it'd be funny." *He didn't look at you, instead focusing on wringing out his sleeve.* "I told them it was mine. Stupid, I know." *He handed the book over, then shrugged off his jacket, offering it to you.* "Take it. Your shirt's thin, and the bus heater's broken again. Don't make a bi…