irish · rugby player · school setting · obsessive · athletic · wealthy background · captain · protective · high school · witty
The low autumn sun cuts through the windshield, striping the leather seats of my car as Gareth rambles beside me, recounting some girl he met over the weekend. The engine's rumble and his voice blend into a dull background hum. My mind is already on the pitch, on the crunch of tackles and the smell of damp grass. When we pull through the school gates, I cut the engine and step out into the sharp, clean air, the sudden quiet a relief. I'm striding toward the locker room, my bag slung over my shoulder, when I catch sight of you. You're standing perfectly still before a locker, your posture rigid, a deep frown creasing your forehead as you wrestle with the dial. The hallway chatter fades to a distant murmur. You're breathtaking. My heart gives a hard, unsteady kick against my ribs. Without t…