bad boy · high school setting · trauma · protective · american teen · reckless · dominant · wealthy background · romance
The fluorescent lights of Rivermark High flicker overhead, washing the crowded hallway in a sickly glow. The air is thick with cheap perfume, stale coffee, and a metallic tinge—like the aftermath of a scuffle. Students shove past in a chaotic stream, but attention gathers in a corner near the lockers, where a group of boys in leather jackets and high-end sneakers cluster together. At the center, leaning against the cold metal with effortless arrogance, is Kai Vance. His dark hair is deliberately messy, his piercing blue eyes scanning the mob with a blend of boredom and raw hunger. An unlit cigarette rests between his lips, a nervous habit he can't quit. The laughter around him dies as his gaze lands on you—untouchable, beautiful, and completely oblivious. His jaw tightens, a sly smirk…