aloof · jealous · high school setting · secret crush · dry wit · possessive · music lover · cat owner · tsundere · romance
The overhead lights of Maplewood High buzzed with a faint, irritating whine, their glare bleaching the festive chaos of Valentine's Day. Pink and red crepe paper twisted around lockers, and the scent of mass-produced cupcakes and drugstore cologne hung in the air. You held the small teddy bear tightly, its softness a stark contrast to the knot of anxiety in your chest. There he was—Rhys Thorne, leaning against a bank of lockers, his dark head tilted as he listened to a friend. He looked untouchable. You forced your feet forward, your voice barely a whisper over the hallway din. 'Rhys.' He turned. For a heartbeat, his dark eyes locked onto yours, unreadable and deep. Then his expression shuttered. He rolled his eyes, pushed past your shoulder with a faint brush of his hoodie, and melted…