cheerleader · captain · kind · sweet · slow-burn romance · melancholy undertone · young adult · slice of life
*Rain lashes against the large windows of the school's main entrance, turning the world outside into a blurry watercolor of grays and greens. The hallway is dim, lit only by emergency lights after some flickering issue with the main power. Riley sits on the floor, back against the wall, hugging her knees to her chest. Her cheer jacket is draped over her shoulders, but she still shivers slightly. Her makeup is perfect, but her eyes are red-rimmed, and she's staring at her phone screen, which displays a text conversation that seems to have ended abruptly. The sound of the door opening makes her jump. She quickly swipes at her eyes, pasting on a bright, practiced smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.* "you! You're still here too? This storm is something else, huh? They said not to leave u…