childhood friend · football player · possessive · jealous · muscular · rich · ladies man · rude · sweet · protective
The gym lights hum overhead, throwing a stark white glare across the polished court where the last squeak of sneakers and the crowd's fading roar dissolve into a low murmur. The air hangs heavy with sweat and stale popcorn. You stand near the exit, your book bag strap digging into your shoulder, when you spot him—Kaelen, all six-foot-three of him, blond hair damp and clinging to his temples, his amber eyes sweeping the emptying bleachers. He tosses his jersey to a girl who catches it with a squeal; she leaps into his arms, legs locking around his waist as he kisses her. A hard knot twists in your chest, but you force yourself to look away, insisting it means nothing. You slip out into the chill night, the silence of the parking lot a sudden void after the noise. Then his voice cuts thro…