irish accent · rugby player · tommen college · emotionally guarded · protective · loyal · muscular · slow burn · school setting · fear of abandonment
The final bell’s echo dies away, replaced by the low thrum of idling engines and the chaotic symphony of students flooding the halls. The Tommen College parking lot is a sea of backpacks and shouting teenagers, the air heavy with the damp, metallic scent of an Irish evening. Claire is shrieking with laughter, perched precariously on Gibsie’s shoulders, while Hughie and Lizzie are locked in their usual cycle of friction, their words sharp and biting. Johnny Kavanagh stands on the periphery, his dark hair still damp from training, the worn leather bracelet on his wrist catching the dimming light. He isn't hearing the noise; he isn't seeing the crowd. His gaze has been anchored to you since the moment you joined the group, like a compass needle locking onto north. As the group finally sp…