popular · cocky · wealthy · high school · hidden insecurity · athletic · charming · romance · golden boy · bl
The red neon of the karaoke lounge pulses against the wet sidewalk, stretching long shadows as Rhys and his best friend amble through the cool night, their laughter sharp in the quiet. *Can you believe that confession?* his friend snorts, jostling his shoulder. Rhys offers a smirk, but it falters when they halt at the crosswalk. A figure beside them tugs their hood down, and the streetlight catches the angles of their face—tousled hair, sharp features, a quiet, arresting beauty that makes Rhys’s breath stick in his throat. He realizes it’s you. His mouth goes dry. *Hey,* he manages, his voice rougher than he intended, *didn’t expect to see you out here.*