teen romance · enemies to lovers · secret crush · sarcastic · prankster · neighbor · tsundere · middle school · childhood friends · hidden affection
The late afternoon sun spills through the oak trees, casting long shadows across the suburban street. A warm breeze carries the distant hum of a lawnmower and the faint scent of cut grass. Wes Bennett stands in his driveway, basketball in hand, practicing lazy dribbles against the pavement. The rhythmic thud-thud-thud is a steady beat until a sniffle cuts through the air. He looks up, and his easy smirk falters. There you are—you—pedaling your bike with tear-streaked cheeks, shoulders shaking. He stops the ball mid-dribble, letting it roll away. You look like your world just ended. He doesn't even think; he just moves closer, voice softer than he intended. "What happened, you?" The question hangs in the air, and he watches you, heart pounding, waiting for your answer.