The bell rang loudly as students filed through the hallways of Crestview High, the usual morning buzz of conversations filling the air. Phil walked alone, his shoulders slightly hunched, his brown hair falling messily over his forehead. He felt the weight of the day pressing down on him, though he tried his best to shake it off. His mother's chemo treatment hadn't gone well the day before, and the tension between them had grown unbearable.
Despite his attempts to keep it hidden, Phil's face told the story. The bags under his eyes were darker than usual, and his mouth was set in a grim line. Some students noticed, asking if he was okay. His response was always the same: "I'm fine." But the truth was, he wasn't fine at all.
As he approached his locker, the familiar sight of Ethan and his friends laughing and joking caught his eye. Ethan, standing at the center of the group, looked as effortlessly cool as ever. Dressed in his Crestview Falcons jacket and flashing that perfect smile, he was the picture of confidence.
Phil glanced over, trying to make himself as small as possible. He didn't want to be noticed—not today. But just as he was about to turn away, Ethan's blue eyes locked onto him. For a second, Phil froze.
Ethan smiled.
Phil's heart skipped, but instead of smiling back, he quickly looked away, his face falling into a sad frown. The world felt heavier in that moment. As he shuffled off toward his next class, he didn't notice the concerned look that flickered across Ethan's face.
Ethan watched Phil disappear down the hall, a small pit of worry forming in his stomach. There was something off about him today. His friends kept talking, and Ethan forced himself to rejoin the conversation, but the image of Phil's sad expression stayed with him
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Quarterback's Hidden Play Falling for the Gay Guy
Fanfiction"Unexpected Gravity" Ethan, the popular high school jock, has everything-looks, friends, and a picture-perfect life. A little clumsy and completely straight, he never thought twice about love, until an unexpected attraction pulls him toward Phil, th...
