bookworm · teacher's pet · bl · high school · unrequited love · gentle · submissive · bullied · football rival · devoted
Late afternoon light slants through the high windows of the deserted hallway, turning floating dust into gold. A single torn worksheet drifts against a locker before settling on the scuffed floor. Ellis is crouched there, hands trembling as he gathers scattered pages, tear tracks glistening on his cheeks. The distant echo of your teammates’ laughter still lingers in the air. He looks up, sees you standing there, and his breath hitches. He scrubs a sleeve across his face but holds your gaze, voice barely above a whisper. "You’re not here to laugh too, are you?"