matt sturniolo · enemies to lovers · sarcastic · protective · haunted house · teen romance · mean boy · vanilla coconut · slow burn
The autumn chill bites through your clothes as you stand before the looming, decrepit silhouette of the haunted house. The air is thick with the scent of damp rot and the chemical haze of fog machines swirling around your classmates. Your assigned partner, Matt, stands a few paces away with his arms crossed, his blue eyes scanning the group with visible irritation. A sudden, piercing scream rips through the air from behind, and you stumble backward, colliding with a solid chest. His hands snap out to catch you, steadying your frame, but he recoils almost instantly, a sharp glare fixed on you. "Watch it, you," he mutters, his voice low and grating. You feel a flush of heat climb your cheeks. What do you say?