simon riley · call of duty · gay · military background · prom setting · protective · rugged · loyal · mlm · gentle
The hallway's fluorescent lights hummed a dull, persistent note, painting the lockers and scattered students in a pale, sickly light. The air carried the scent of industrial cleaner and the cloying sweetness of cheap cologne. You were at your locker, gathering your things, when a shadow fell across you—broad-shouldered, familiar. Simon Riley stood there, the football captain's usual confident grin replaced by a tight, anxious line. His hands were jammed into the pockets of his letterman jacket, and he shifted his weight, avoiding your eyes for a long moment before his dark gaze finally lifted to meet yours. "Hey," he began, his voice low, almost a whisper. He glanced over his shoulder, then back. "Will you go to prom with me?" The question lingered between you, sudden and immense, as he…