INICIAR SESIÓNNoahA few feet away, Mariah had Jackson by the hands, forcing him to actually participate. He looked like he wanted to complain, but his eyes were soft, and his mouth kept twitching into a smile like he couldn’t help it.Mariah leaned closer to him, shouting something in his ear over the music.Jackson’s face changed instantly—surprise, then amusement, then something warmer.He shook his head like she was ridiculous.And then he danced with her anyway.Which, honestly, was the most shocking thing I’d ever witnessed.Jessa noticed me watching and bumped her hip into mine. “Hey. Focus.”I looked back at her. “On what?”She grinned. “On your girlfriend.”That word hit me harder than it should’ve.Girlfriend.Like it was real. Like it was allowed. Like it wasn’t going to disappear the second the lights turned off and Monday showed up again.I felt my mouth curve into a grin before I could stop it. “Yes, ma’am.”“Good,” she said, satisfied, and spun—just a quick turn—and when she faced me
NoahThe gym looked like someone took a normal Friday night and dumped a gallon of glitter on it.Streamers in school colors were draped from the basketball hoops, fairy lights wrapped around the bleachers, and the DJ had the speakers turned up so loud the bass felt like it was thumping straight through my ribs. The dance floor was packed—mostly girls, spinning and laughing like this was the greatest night of their lives, hair bouncing, dresses swishing, arms in the air like they were at a concert instead of Ridgeville’s Homecoming.The guys? We were exactly where you’d expect.Huddled around the tables near the wall, pretending we weren’t impressed, pretending we weren’t clueless, pretending we weren’t counting down the minutes until we could escape back to the comfort zone of food and trash talk.I leaned back in my chair and watched the chaos like it was a nature documentary.Jessa had been pulled into a group of girls the second we walked in—Mariah obviously, a couple cheer girls,
JessaThe parking lot was chaos.Cars lined every curb, headlights flashing, music thumping faintly from open windows. Parents clustered together in groups, phones already out, calling names, directing kids where to stand like this was some kind of red-carpet event instead of Ridgeville High’s Homecoming.Noah pulled into a spot and turned off the engine. For a second, neither of us moved.“You good?” he asked, glancing over at me.I nodded, even though my heart was racing. “Yeah. Just… wow.”He smiled, that calm, steady smile that had somehow become my anchor. “Ready to make an entrance?”I laughed softly. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”When we stepped out of the truck, the noise hit us full force. Laughter, cameras clicking, parents shouting over each other. I clutched Noah’s arm instinctively, and without hesitation, he tightened his grip just a little—solid, reassuring.And then I saw her.“Jess!”Mom was waving from near the front of the school, already holding her phone up like she
JessaOf all the nights I thought would make me nervous, I never expected this one to feel so… quiet.Not quiet like empty.Quiet like something sacred was happening and I didn’t want to interrupt it.My bedroom was warm with the soft yellow glow of the lamp on my dresser. The mirror reflected a version of me that still felt a little unreal—hair half done, dress hanging on the closet door like it was waiting for permission to exist, nerves fluttering low in my stomach.Mom stood behind me, gently brushing through my hair with careful hands.“I swear,” I said, watching our reflections, “Mariah makes this look easy.”She chuckled softly. “Mariah has had a lot of practice.”“And YouTube,” I added. “And confidence.”Mom met my eyes in the mirror. “Confidence comes with time.”I hesitated, then admitted, “I’m… not very good at makeup.”She tilted her head. “You’ve never needed much.”“That’s not what I meant.” I swallowed. “Mariah always does mine. When I try… I just feel like I make it wo
NoahI’d never spent so much time fixing my hair in my entire life.It wasn’t even complicated hair. Just short, slightly messy, “I promise I showered” hair. But tonight it had to look… good. Presentable. Like I wasn’t some clueless guy who lucked into taking a girl as amazing as Jessa to Homecoming.Homecoming.My first real date.My first real girlfriend.My chest tightened in the best possible way.I straightened my tie in the hallway mirror for maybe the sixth time when Mom’s voice floated in from the living room.“Oh my God, Noah, you look so handsome!”I groaned. “Mom…”She rushed over, hands clasped dramatically under her chin. “My baby has a girlfriend.”“Mom,” I hissed. “Please.”She ignored me completely, circling me like she was inspecting a show horse. “I thought this day would never come.”“Why does everyone think I’m incapable of dating?”“You’re selective,” she said, fixing my jacket collar. “And painfully oblivious.”“That’s rude.”She patted my cheek. “It’s true.”I r
JessaSaturday mornings are usually quiet.Not sleepy-quiet—our house has never really mastered that—but familiar quiet. The hum of the fridge. The distant sound of a neighbor’s lawn mower. The creak in the floorboard by the hallway that Jackson still pretends isn’t there even though it’s announced his presence since we were ten.Today, though, my nerves are loud.I’m standing in the kitchen in socks and an oversized T-shirt, pouring cereal into a bowl like it’s a high-stakes operation instead of Cheerios. My hands are shaking just enough that a few pieces bounce onto the counter.It’s Homecoming Day.I keep saying it in my head like if I repeat it enough, it’ll start to feel normal.Homecoming Day.I have a dress.I have a date.I’m going to the dance.My stomach flips again.I’m reaching for the milk when footsteps pad into the kitchen behind me. Heavy, confident—no mistaking it.Jackson.He looks annoyingly relaxed for someone who scored the winning touchdown last night and got cro







