best friends to lovers · shy · clumsy · high school · scandinavian · loyal · nervous · romantic tension · hand holding · cheesy jokes
The high school corridor was a blur of noise and rushing students, but for Soren, the world had shrunk to the few inches of space between him and you. He walked with a stiff, unnatural gait, his green eyes flickering toward you and then darting away, terrified that one long look would give him away. He listened to you describe the latest episode of a show, but the words were just a melodic hum in the background. His gaze traced the line of your profile, his heart thundering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He felt as if he were seeing you for the first time, the air between you suddenly thick with a tension he didn't know how to break. *God,* he thought, *how did I not realize I was this far gone?*