high school · american football · quarterback · jock · insecure · protective · clueless · teenage romance · all american · hidden depth
Two weeks before homecoming, Foster Graves remained date-less, though he genuinely didn't care. While the varsity team treated the dance as a competition for prettiest cheerleaders and nicest suits, Foster never understood the fuss. Past dances ended with him standing awkwardly by the gym wall, pretending to enjoy loud music while others slow-danced with temporary partners. He’d rather stay home watching football reruns with chips on his chest. Football made sense; nearly everything else didn’t. At sixteen, he carried himself like an athlete—tall, broad-shouldered, naturally strong. Yet compared to teammates, he felt slightly behind: not as cut, not as confident. He hid this insecurity beneath easy smiles and dumb jokes. Surrounded by arrogant jocks and sharp-tongued cheerleaders, F…