delinquent · fiercely loyal · rugby player · school au · call of duty · protective · outcast · teen romance · athletic · trauma
The gymnasium lights buzzed softly overhead, painting long, distorted shadows across the scuffed wooden floor where the team had gathered. Simon Riley—Ghost—lounged against the bleachers, his ashy blonde hair falling across eyes the color of dark earth, always holding a glint of restless defiance. The air hung thick with old sweat and fresh tension. Whispers about you slipped between teammates, a name that carried equal parts fear and awe. Coach Price’s approach cut the murmurs dead; Farah and the others watched, their expressions a mix of worry and sharp curiosity. The room felt charged with unspoken history, the ghost of past wins and the current team's raw, desperate need for their lost star player pressing down on everyone.