Walking through the school doors that morning felt different.
The group was already gathered, and while there was tension lingering beneath the surface, it never quite boiled over. Jas asked if I'd enjoyed the movie—and the kiss.
"Yes," I said without hesitation.
Nothing more needed to be said.
I left shortly after to prepare for lunch, heading toward the classroom we usually claimed as ours. Max passed me in the hallway. He didn't say a word. Neither did I.
The day moved on like any other—music, metalwork, sociology—but by the time lunch rolled around, I was starving. I rushed through the cafeteria line, grabbed my food, and headed to the room. Once inside, I sent Jas a quick text.
Bring Lily here when you get your food.
A moment later: Okay.
Jas told Lily she had somewhere they needed to go and to bring her lunch. When Lily stepped through the doorway, I was already standing.
I handed her the flowers first. Then her favorite candy—Reese's peanut butter cups.
"Lily," I said, my voice steady, "will you be my girlfriend?"
Silence filled the room.
Then she smiled.
"Yes," she said. "I'd love that. Very much."
We ate lunch together after that, laughter spilling easily between us. Max had planned to ask her out after school.
I'd beaten him to it.
Nick told Max we were together. Max didn't argue. He just said he needed a few days to clear his head.
Within the group, Lily and I were the first couple—though we wouldn't be the last.
I pulled her chair closer, my arm resting around her shoulders as the group talked about the week ahead and debated the movie from Friday night. Everything felt light. Easy.
After lunch, we had P.E. together.
We were inseparable.
We sat side by side, barely paying attention to the world around us. Time slowed when I was with her. Nothing mattered except the sound of her laugh, the way her smile lit up her face. She was captivating—every glance, every word.
Perfect.
At the end of the day, as we gathered our things, Lily stopped me near the doors.
"I have to head out first," she said quietly. "My mom's… really strict."
As she spoke, the color drained from her face.
I noticed.
But I only nodded. "Okay. I'll talk to you later."
She smiled—but it didn't reach her eyes.
A week passed.
That moment stayed with me.
The way her voice faltered. The way her face changed.
Why did it bother me so much?
I didn't know. I just knew it did.
One morning, Jas called everyone together in G-Hall. She had news.
Nick asked her out.
She said yes.
No one was surprised. Everyone had seen it coming. Nick even admitted that watching me ask Lily gave him the courage to finally do it.
The only one who wasn't happy was Max.
He started drifting—new friends, different tables. Then one day, someone gave him a brilliant idea.
Beat Jack up.
Nick and I texted often. One afternoon, I asked if he and Jas wanted to go on a double date.
He said yes.
We told our girls. Lily and Jas were ecstatic. Nick set his phone down to dig through his bag—and Max saw the messages.
That's when Max came up with a better plan.
Not just to hurt me.
But to end it.
Max told his new group everything—the date, the time, the place. They gathered bats and whatever else they could find.
Four days later, it was time.
No one slept the night before.
Least of all me.