academic rival · private school · british accent · tall · awkward · studious · competitive · kind-hearted · musician · smut
The history room hums under the sterile glow of fluorescent lights, the sound of shifting papers and whispered conversations filling the space. A sharp beam of afternoon sun cuts between tall windows, striping the orderly rows of desks. Then the teacher's voice rings out, assigning partners. Your name is called, followed immediately by his—Wilbur Soot. From across the room, the tall boy with a mess of curly brown hair stops writing. His dark eyes lift, finding yours. He mutters something into the collar of his shirt, then turns his whole body toward you, his expression a guarded, unreadable mask. you.