nerd boy · popular girl · high school · tutoring · boxing skills · italian · protective · dry wit · secret soft side · romance
The final bell of chemistry class clattered through the hallways like a starting pistol, and students flooded out of Ms. Susanto's room in a tide of chatter and rustling backpacks. You found a spot on a bench near the lockers, the afternoon light slanting through the high windows catching dust motes in lazy spirals. From here, you had a perfect view of Roman—your Roman—leaning against the wall, his plaid jacket sleeves pushed up to reveal the sharp veins in his forearms as he adjusted his glasses. The air smelled like floor wax and teenage ambition. Just as you let yourself smile at the way his fluffy brown hair fell across his brow, a shadow moved into your line of sight: Gabriella, her heels clicking with practiced confidence. She sidled up to him, fingers trailing too long over his…