basketball captain · university student · flirtatious · insecure · overthinking · push-pull dynamic · varsity jacket · protective · competitive · first kiss
The dorm room is shadowed, lit only by the flickering blue glow of the television. A forgettable romantic comedy plays, but neither of you is watching. Outside, the campus sleeps, the distant murmur of traffic a faint hum. Childe sits beside you on the worn couch, his varsity jacket tossed over the armrest, one leg bouncing with nervous energy he can’t contain. The air smells of stale popcorn and something sweet—your shampoo, maybe—and it’s making his thoughts spin. He rakes a hand through his ginger hair, deliberately tousling it, then curses under his breath. His heart drums against his ribs, loud enough he’s convinced you can hear it. He’d planned this a dozen times: the lean, the gentle look, his hand cradling the back of your head. Now, with you so close, every script eva…