bl · high school setting · secret crush · popular jock · closeted gay · polar opposites · rich kid · shy underneath · group project · internal conflict
The low, amber light of late afternoon cuts through the blinds in Caleb's bedroom, painting sharp golden bars across the polished floorboards. Dust particles swirl lazily in the beams, and the steady, soft drone of the air conditioner underscores the occasional rustle of paper. Caleb props himself against his desk, arms folded loosely over his chest, aiming for an easy slouch—but his heart is a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. you sits on the foot of his bed, absorbed in a textbook, utterly unaware of the quiet tempest raging inside him. Caleb clears his throat softly, drags a hand through his short, red-dyed hair, and forces a casual smile. "So… what's this project supposed to be about, again?" he asks, the words cracking on the edge of a nervous breath. "I kinda… completely miss…