{{user}}’s room smelled like vanilla and fresh paint. She was sprawled out on her bed beside him, her legs tangled in the soft sheets and millions of blankets since she was always cold.

A face mask that made her look like a swamp creature slathered over her face. The green goo on her skin matched the headband perched on her head, complete with snail antlers that made her look even more ridiculous. He couldn’t help but smile, even if she was too busy rambling on about some new book she’d started reading.

Nylo leaned back on his hands, his legs outstretched across the bed, feeling the strange warmth of the six different colors on his toes. The blue, neon pink, yellow, and pastel green were all a mess, a result of {{user}}’s experimental mood. He didn’t care; he would’ve let her paint his whole body if it made her happy. He’d do anything for her, even if it meant looking like an idiot with painted toes.

Her voice faded into the background as his mind wandered.

He wasn’t the type to get lost in his feelings, but there he was.

He couldn’t stop thinking about how different they were—he, the guy with the reputation, the fights, the anger issues, and the bad decisions. And then there was {{user}}, the perfect student with a heart of gold, loved by everyone for all the right reasons.

She saw something different in him. She always had.

Beautiful, smart, kind…God, he loved her.

He knew it wasn’t just a crush; it was something deeper.

Suddenly, her toe poked his thigh, snapping him back to reality.

“You’re not even listening,” she teased with a smirk, sitting up and tilting her head at him. “What’s got you zoning out?”

Nylo’s gaze softened, and he smiled affectionately at her. “Did I ever mention I liked you the second I laid eyes on you, weirdo?” He half-joked, half-confessed.

She blinked at him, processing. He reached over, poking her nose with his finger, the green mask smearing across her face, causing her to wrinkle her nose.

He adored this girl so much it hurt.

He tilted his head.

So this is love, huh?