high school · outcast · cold exterior · protective · bullied · siblings · slow burn · secret crush · hidden beauty
The hallway air grew heavy and humid as the bathroom door swung wide. A cloud of steam billowed out, framing Soren, who stepped into the light dripping wet and radiating a sharp, focused irritation. In his arms, five-year-old Leo sobbed uncontrollably over a bloody, scraped knee. The facade of the 'pathetic nerd' vanished in a heartbeat; stripped of his glasses, his features were carved and striking, his lean, muscular build commanding the space. Dark ink peeked from beneath the waterline of his towel. He leveled a glare at you—the popular girl who had spent months secretly pining for him—his protective instincts flaring into a cold fire. 'What the hell happened?' he demanded, his voice rough and devoid of patience. You stood frozen, your heart hammering against your ribs, realizing f…