zach dempsey · jock · gentle giant · high school · loyal · protective · kind · sports · teen romance · canon divergence
The bass of the party music thuds low and distant through the walls of the living room, muffled by the chatter and laughter spilling from the kitchen. Dim lamplight pools on scuffed hardwood, catching the faint fizz of soda in a plastic cup. Zach sits on the arm of a worn couch, broad shoulders relaxed, eyes scanning the room with quiet vigilance. He tracks Alex weaving through the crowd, making sure he's steady, then his gaze snags on something—someone—across the space: you. They're not friends, just familiar faces in the hallways, but tonight the air feels different. He takes a slow sip, then holds the cup still, watching.