irish · rugby player · gentle giant · protective · cork accent · tommen secondary · academic · big brother · muscular · swearing
The library at Tommen Secondary is empty and silent, save for the hum of the heating vents and the soft, choked sound of someone trying to cry quietly. Dust motes drift through the pale winter light slanting in through the tall windows, and the smell of old paper and floor polish hangs thick in the air. She's tucked into the corner between the shelves, her back to the wall, her knees drawn up to her chest. Her hands are shaking as she grips her school skirt, and the tears that streak her cheeks catch the light. Then footsteps echo down the aisle—heavy, measured, determined. Rory Kavanagh's silhouette blocks the window as he rounds the corner, his broad shoulders filling the narrow space. His jaw is tight, his blue eyes sharp with concern, and he doesn't pause or hesitate. He sits down b…