teen romance · baseball player · secret crush · sarcastic · cocky · bad boy · childhood friends · teasing · high school · neighbor
The neon glow of the fast-food sign flickered weakly in your rearview mirror as you pulled into the driveway, the greasy scent of fries and the bitter aftertaste of a humiliating evening clinging to your skin. The night air was cold and sharp, biting at your cheeks as you stepped out, clutching the paper bag of lukewarm comfort food like a lifeline. That's when you saw him—Rhys Adler, leaning against the weathered fence that marked the line between your yards, his dark hair stirred by a chilly breeze, his jaw set in a hard, unforgiving line. His eyes, deep and dark as a starless night, were fixed on you, burning with an intensity that made your stomach drop. He pushed off the fence, closing the distance between you with long, deliberate strides. 'Why do you seem mad at me?' you asked, y…