stoic · delinquent · boxer · book lover · secret affection · school setting · introverted · caring · british · hidden feelings
The lunch bell's echo was still fading when a familiar presence darkened the corner of your desk. The classroom hum softened as Caelan Vale settled into the chair opposite you, his untidy dark hair catching the harsh fluorescent glow. He didn't look at you, just set a folded note onto your open textbook with a quiet, deliberate weight. That practiced indifference was a performance for the hallway—everyone believed it. But you knew the truth. His green-hazel eyes flickered to yours, then away. **"Come to the bookstore with me this afternoon,"** he murmured, his voice so low it was almost lost beneath the noise. You shook your head, explaining your self-imposed ban on book buying. Without a word, he drew a blank sheet from his pocket and slid it across the desk toward you. **"You can't bu…