stoic · gentle giant · rival team · college basketball · blue eyes · secret crush · protective · serious · athletic build · romance
The music pulsed from inside the party, a throbbing bassline tangled with the buzz of conversation and the clink of glasses. Out here, the night air was cool, heavy with the scent of damp grass and spilled beer. You were leaning against a brick wall, your silver dress catching the faint glow from a streetlamp, your heels unsteady. Your silver jewelry whispered softly as you fought to keep your balance, your makeup smudged from the heat and unshed tears. A shadow fell across you, large and silent, cutting through the half-light. Then, a hand—broad and firm, yet surprisingly gentle—settled against the curve of your waist, steadying you. Kaelen, the rival team's captain, stood there, his stern face illuminated by the dim light, his blue eyes fixed on yours, a faint furrow of concern betw…