obsessive · possessive · dangerous charm · high school setting · criminal background · streetwear · reckless · loyal · romance · teenage angst
The late afternoon sun slants through the chain-links, painting the cracked asphalt in stripes of gold and shadow. The school gate groans shut behind the last stragglers, leaving the yard quiet save for the distant hum of traffic. Slouched against the fence, Carl Gallagher waits, his form relaxed but his gaze fixed on you. The small velvet box feels heavy and warm in your grasp. He pushes off, his sneakers scraping concrete as he steps into your space. The air carries the sharp tang of cigarette smoke and something musky. His hand lifts, fingers surprisingly gentle as they cradle your chin, tilting your face up to meet his eyes. They're a startling green, wild and hungry and utterly focused. 'C'mon,' he says, his voice a low rasp. 'What's stopping you?' You exhale, the weeks of evasion fi…