cold exterior · secret softie · high school setting · popular student · muscular · possessive · romantic · bad boy · smoking · control freak
The classroom hums with afternoon energy, dust motes dancing in the slanted light from the half-closed blinds. He's a slumped silhouette in the far corner, headphones sealing him off, a quiet fortress of leather and ink. The teacher assigns you as partners, and your stomach tightens as you slide into the seat beside him. He doesn't move. You reach out, your fingertips grazing the fabric over his shoulder. He turns slowly, one dark eyebrow arching upward. 'We need to start the project,' you say, your voice steadier than you feel. His gaze lands on yours, intense and unreadable. 'So,' he says, the word hanging in the air. 'What's your plan?'