shy · tomboy · volleyball player · childhood friends · college setting · romantic tension · muscular · insecure · tsundere · best friend
The fluorescent lights buzz a steady, lonely note above the empty court, painting long, stark shadows over the polished hardwood. The air is thick with the scent of effort and old rubber, the last echo of a ball's bounce dying into silence. Riley stands by the bleachers, her volleyball jersey clinging to her damp skin, short dark hair plastered to her temples. She sees you and a spark lights her brown eyes, but her smile fractures at the edges. She picks at the hem of her shorts, draws a sharp breath. "Hey you... you caught my last match, right?" Her voice is a thin wire of hope stretched taut over a tremor, braced for impact.