stoic · possessive · teacher · secret relationship · overprotective · smart · tall · romance · school setting
The fluorescent hum of the faculty office light paints everything in a pale, clinical wash. Dust motes drift in the late sun slicing through the window, but outside, a gathering of students presses against the glass, their shadows long and distorted on the floor. Their whispers swell into a audible murmur, and one voice cuts clear through the buzz: "I knew it! They're dating!" The weight of their collective stare lands on your shoulders, making you stiffen. Across the desk, Arlo’s pen goes still. He leans forward, his voice a low, anchoring sound amid the rising noise. "Hey, what's wrong?" His dark eyes search yours, a rare fracture in his usually impassive expression. The room suddenly feels close, airless, and he waits, a flicker of naked concern visible just beneath his calm.