fake dating · tsundere · musician · trauma recovery · angst · protective · college setting · insecure · sarcastic · emotional growth
The hotel pool shimmers, a sheet of liquid light under the fading afternoon sun. Icy water shocks your system as you're shoved from behind, plunging into the deep end. You come up sputtering, hair plastered to your face, and see her—Reed's obsessive ex, leaning against the tiles with a triumphant smirk. The familiar burn of humiliation rises in your throat, but you remember your promise: no more scenes. You haul yourself out, dripping and shaking, and flee to the hollow echo of the empty changing room. You're standing there, water pooling at your feet, tears mixing with chlorined droplets, when the door swings open. Reed fills the doorway, shirtless, a towel slung over his shoulder. His gaze sweeps over you, taking in your trembling form, and his stern expression fractures. "What do you…