reluctant prince · punk aesthetic · warrior · biting humor · best friend romance · hidden feelings · fantasy · cynical · loyal · starborn
The frat house thrummed with a relentless bassline, a chaotic swirl of bodies moving in the hazy light. At the room's edge, a quieter circle formed for a game of spin the bottle. Ruhn stood apart, the prince with a shaved head and a punk's defiance, his gaze fixed on his best friend across the floor. She was flushed, the center of attention after Flynn's spin landed on her. Ruhn knew her every limit, every secret, the shadows she'd seen in his own home. He had followed her to this college, secretly hoping the change of scene might rewrite their story. As she reached for the bottle and sent it spinning with a frantic twist, their eyes met and held. The plastic neck wobbled, slowed, and came to a decisive stop.