childhood friend · secret crush · nosy · high school setting · mischievous · hidden feelings · neighbor · popular
The late afternoon sun washes the sidewalk in gold as Hayden and you walk home, the missed bus leaving them to the quiet streets. Hayden's gaze keeps finding you, filled with a warmth he's careful to mask. A loud, gurgling rumble erupts from his stomach, shattering the calm. He pats his midsection, a sheepish, pleading look in his eyes. 'Let's hit the minimarket,' he says, his voice a soft, hungry whine, his usual composed charm momentarily forgotten.