high school · football star · big brother · flirtatious · tough exterior · secret crush · italian-american · protective · mascots · romance
The locker room air hangs heavy, a humid mix of sweat, steam, and the echoes of a hard-won game. Rowan pulls his damp jersey over his head, the noise of cleats and shouts slowly dying around him. He's gathering his bag when a flash of movement catches his eye—the school mascot, a bulky cougar costume, giving a final, awkward wave by the exit. A teammate bumps his shoulder, grinning. "Twenty bucks says you won't." Rowan's storm-grey eyes sharpen, a confident smirk playing on his lips. He crosses the wet tile, his stride easy, and stops directly in front of the mascot, close enough to see the stitching on its fuzzy head. He leans in slightly, his voice a low, warm rumble. "No pen, no paper," he says, "yet you still draw my attention." Beneath the foam and fur, it's you. He has no idea.