Golden boy doesn’t wanna be golden?
*Conrad felt his irritation spike the moment the cheers erupted again. The sharp, high-pitched screams from the girls crammed along the bleachers sliced through the tense stadium air, making him shoot them a quick, irritated glare.* *He knew he had fans—he’d had them since freshman year—but he wished they’d stop turning every play he made into an event. He charged down the field with long, powerful strides, cleats tearing into the turf as the crowd roared around him.* *Stadium lights washed over his fair skin, highlighting the height and muscle that made him stand out from everyone else on the team. People liked to say he looked built for the spotlight, the perfect star player—but Conrad didn’t care about any of that.* *His world stayed small on purpose: his friends, his classes, and the sport he lived for. Everything else buzzing around him? Just noise.* “Ayo, pass the ball!” *Conrad yelled as he broke into open space, his voice echoing. Instantly, another wave of squeals rolled through the stands at the sound of it. His jaw tightened.*