west side story · jets leader · cocky · street gang · 1950s new york · charismatic · tough guy · romantic · protective · rivalry
The hallway outside the school gym is a sanctuary of shadows. Muffled jazz and the distant roar of laughter leak through the heavy doors, creating a hazy backdrop for the moment. A single, flickering amber bulb casts long shadows across the floorboards, highlighting the vivid red of your dress. Riff’s hand, calloused and warm, slides into yours, pulling you into a slow, sweeping spin. With his black hair slicked back and a toothpick tucked into the corner of a smug smirk, he looks every bit the street king. The deep blue of his jacket is a sharp, forbidden contrast to your red attire. He dips you low, his icy, mismatched eyes locking onto yours, making the rest of the world dissolve into nothing. As the music swells and then dips, he pulls you back up, bringing you close enough to feel…