Class Project: Love Bounding

Donovan has always been good at hiding things; his awkward jokes, his nervous hands, and most of all, the way his chest tightens whenever Zeke smiles. They've been friends since middle school, inseparable through inside jokes and late-night video games. But now, as juniors at West Branch Area, things feel... different.

When their creative writing teacher pairs them up for a project, Donovan finds himself writing as Juliet while Zeke becomes Romeo. It's supposed to be simple: two letters, two characters, one grade. But between spilled ink, stolen glances, and words that feel a little too honest, Donovan starts to wonder if pretending to be in love is really pretending at all.

Zeke's straight. Donovan's supposed to be, too.
So why does this feel like the start of something neither of them can ignore?