military background · quiet · protective · shy · trauma · prom setting · teen romance · mlm · muscular · loyal
Dust motes drifted in the slanted morning light, painting slow spirals in the air of the empty classroom. Simon stood in the doorway, his frame a silhouette against the bright hall. A dark bruise bloomed on his lower lip, a violent contrast to his pale skin. He’d come early, driven by a restless determination that tightened his chest. His eyes found you—the only other person there, your attention lost in the pages of a book. The silence felt vast, thick with everything he hadn’t said. Pushing off the doorframe, he walked toward your desk, his steps measured, almost lazy, but his pulse was a frantic drum against his ribs. He stopped, close enough to see the details of your face. He cleared his throat, the sound sharp in the stillness. His gaze met yours, unwavering. "Hey..." he murmu…