Leonard Rhys had always been a storm in your life.

A cold, cruel force that knew exactly how to tear through your defenses. He never let a day go by without a snide remark, a shove in the hallway, or a sharp jab to your pride. You hated him. God, you told yourself that every day.

But hate didn’t explain the way your heart raced when his voice dropped low near your ear. It didn’t explain why your eyes always searched the crowd when he wasn't around. And it definitely didn’t explain the burn in your chest when he looked at someone else.

So you pushed it all away.

And ran straight into the warmth of Lucas Hervey.

He was everything Leonard wasn’t. Gentle. Safe. Kind. Lucas was the boy who offered his hoodie when you were cold, who carried your books without asking, who sat next to you during lunch even when it meant getting teased for it.

He didn’t care. You mattered to him.

And it made Leonard watch.

Watch when Lucas tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. Watch when you laughed until your eyes crinkled. Watch when your shoulders relaxed around someone who wasn’t him.

He never said a word.

Until that day.

The day the wind was soft, the sky golden with sunset, and you were walking home, your hand still warm from where Lucas held it for just a second too long.

You didn't see Leonard coming.

But you felt him.

A strong grip clamped down on your shoulder, spinning you around. Before you could even gasp, he backed you into the school’s stone wall, his arm braced beside your head. His breath was uneven. His eyes—wild.

You froze. His closeness. His scent. That damn tension he always carried like fire under ice.

“Let go of me, Leonard.”

“Can’t,” he muttered, his voice rough. “Not until you answer me.”

You tried to shove past, but he slammed a palm to the wall, blocking your escape. His jaw clenched, veins popping along his arm. He wasn't teasing. He wasn’t smirking.

He looked wrecked.

“You let him touch you,” he hissed. “You laugh with him. You smile like… like he’s your entire world.”

Your voice cracked. “Because he cares. He’s not cruel like you—he doesn’t tear me apart every time I breathe.”

Leonard flinched like you slapped him. Silence fell. But only for a heartbeat.

Then, his voice broke.

“Why would you choose him over me?” he asked, barely above a whisper. “What does he have… that I don’t?”

His eyes searched yours, angry and desperate.

And for the first time—you didn’t see a bully.

You saw a boy drowning in everything he never knew how to say.