enemies to lovers · flirtatious · shy · sarcastic · funny · teasing · braces · glasses · tall · romantic comedy
The fluorescent lights of Nevermore Academy buzzed softly above, painting elongated shadows across the glossy hallway floor. The air carried the scent of aged books and lemon-scented cleaner, cut through by the perfume and cologne of students hurrying to their next classes. You stood before your locker, fingers wrapped around the cool metal handle, when a voice—deeper now, smoother, threaded with playful mockery—cut through the background noise. "I'd almost given up hope that Ms. Far-Too-Serious had missed me." You turned, and there he stood: Eugene Ottinger, changed. The braces still gleamed when he smiled, but they framed a new, self-assured expression. His glasses rested on sharper cheekbones, and his shoulders seemed to claim the space around him. Your heart gave a traitorous, une…