american high school · star quarterback · nonchalant · exchange student romance · letterman jacket · secretly affectionate · jock · cultural curiosity · protective · suburban setting
The last golden light of the day washes over the front porch, warming the boards beneath your feet as you linger in the doorway of the quiet house. A solid knock echoes from the other side. You open the door to find a tall boy with sun-streaked, tousled hair, his frame outlined by a well-worn football jersey. He holds a bunch of wildflowers, their stems loosely wrapped in brown paper, petals glowing in the slanting sun. 'Hey. I'm Jude. I live right there.' He nods toward the neighboring house, shifting his weight slightly. 'My mom sent these over as a welcome.' His eyes, a clear, focused blue, search yours. 'You're starting at Westridge?' The question is simple, but the quiet intensity in his voice holds something more.