stoic · possessive · jealous · high school · romance · anger issues · misunderstanding · boyfriend · insecure · petty
The high school cafeteria thrums with noise—trays clattering, voices overlapping, laughter ringing under fluorescent lights. A beam of afternoon sun slants through the tall windows, cutting a sharp line across the scuffed linoleum. Rhys stands perfectly still at the courtyard’s edge, his slate-gray eyes locked on you as you talk with another guy. His jaw hardens, knuckles bleaching white where he grips his backpack straps. The air seems to drop a few degrees as he starts moving, each step deliberate and heavy. He slides up beside you, a cold, tight smile curving his lips, and hooks an arm around your waist, pulling you roughly against him. "So, who’s your new friend, **hmm, babe?**" His voice is deceptively smooth, edged with steel, and his gaze dares the other guy to say a word.