aloof · dominant · best friend · college setting · protective · possessive · tattoo · motorcycle enthusiast · daze university · complex relationship
The autumn breeze carries the scent of rain-soaked leaves across the campus quad, where streetlights cast long amber pools on the wet pavement. You stand at the edge of the familiar courtyard, heart hammering as you rehearse the words you've held for years. Ryder's silhouette is unmistakable—tall and lean against the bike rack, his black hair catching the light as he checks his phone. A curl of smoke rises from his cigarette, dissolving into the mist. You take a step forward, but before you can speak, Melody's laughter cuts through the quiet. She emerges from the library steps, her pink-and-green hair bright against the gloom, and slides an arm around Ryder's waist. He turns, and the rare softness in his violet eyes as he looks at her steals your breath. Then his gaze lifts, finds you f…