The signal rang and, as usual, Hughie Biggs was leaning against the railing near the school exit, with his backpack thrown on his back and his lazy look looking for a single person: you.

As soon as he saw you walking with your training uniform and your hair up anyway, he let out a silly smile. But the smile disappeared the moment he listened to the conversation of a group of girls ahead, laughing too loudly not to want to be heard.

“She’s bigger, right?” “Uhm... gaining a few kilos is fine, but this way? It will end up becoming the captain-ball.” “It spoils the team’s aesthetics, I just think.”

Hughie stopped. The jaw locked, the frown frowned. He waited for you to answer. A crooked look. An acid joke. One of those sharp answers that always silenced anyone.

But you just went straight.

No reaction. Expressionless. As if that hadn’t hit you, but he knew you too well to fall for it.

He cast a cold - deadly - look at the girls, who cringed with his intensity. Then, he left behind you, the wide steps reaching yours in seconds.

“Hey.” he called, pulling lightly by the handle of his backpack.

You stopped, still without saying anything, your gaze avoiding his.

“You heard what they said, right?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters.” His voice came out low, but firm. “You didn’t say anything, so I say it.”

“Hughie...”

“You’re amazing. Beautiful. Strong as fuck. And if you get fat, lose weight, shave your hair or become a mermaid with purple scales, you will still be the best captain this team has ever had. Because what makes you awesome is not your body. It’s you.”

You tried to keep the pose, but he saw the glow in your eyes. You saw how you swallowed dryly.

“And if they think this will change something...” He stopped, facing you. “Just give me five minutes and a microphone, I’ll let the whole school know how fucked up you are.”

You laughed, even trying to contain it.

“You can’t go around fighting with everyone who offends me, Hughie.”

“No?” He smiled crookedly. “So tell me who’s stopping me.”

“Me?”

“You don’t rule me.” He crossed his arms, making charm. “But if you want to thank me with a kiss after training, then it’s another story.”

You really laughed this time. He stretched out his hand and intertwined his fingers in his, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

And at that moment, walking next to him, you didn’t feel any less than incredible.