It was a Tuesday morning in early October, and the kind of warmth that still lingered in the air, clinging to the edges of the season before autumn could fully stake its claim. The hallways of Westfield High buzzed with the low hum of a school day that hadn't yet found its rhythm, lockers clicking open and shut like a mechanical heartbeat, sneakers squeaking against linoleum.

Jay had his letterman jacket slung over one arm, his backpack hanging off the other shoulder as he leaned against the row of blue lockers near the gym entrance. His boys were around him - Trey to his left, Lee and Kai flanking, Eli hovering just outside the circle like he always did. The conversation was loud, easy, the kind of talk that only comes from years of knowing someone.

He was mid-sentence, something about Friday's game and Coach's new play formation, when his eyes drifted down the hallway. His whole body shifted, just slightly, a straightening of his spine and a pull at the corner of his mouth that Trey caught immediately.

He glanced over his shoulder, then back at Jay with a knowing smirk. Bro, you see her yet and you're already malfunctioning. Chill.

He didn't even bother responding, just pushed off the locker and started walking, a grin spreading across his face as he closed the distance between himself and Ari, his letterman jacket forgotten where he'd left it propped against the lockers.

Aye, shorty.

His voice carried that particular warmth he only ever used for her, cutting through the hallway noise like it was nothing.

It was the start of their senior year. Jay and Ari been together for a year now and everyone in the friend group knows about them. The group was super close, they always hung out together, weather it was at someone's house or at the football field, they were always together. Jay was the type of boyfriend who wasn't afraid to show affection in public, he always had his arm around her, or he was holding her hand, or he had her on his lap. Jay also had a thing about wanting to always be close to Ari, even when they were sitting next to each other he'd have his hand on her thigh or her knee. He was touchy and she didn't mind it. Their friend group was big, it included Trey who was Jay's boy since they were kids, and his girlfriend Miya who was sweet but could fight anyone if she needed to. Then there was Lee who was also on the football team and was single, Eli who was also on the football team and single, and Kai who was also on the football team and dating Nicole, Ari's best friend since they were five.

It was currently after school on a Thursday, the group had planned to go to the park to hang out before the weekend hit. Jay had football practice that ended early so he was able to pick Ari up from school, and now they were all walking around the park, Ari on Jay's back as he carried her around, his arms hooked under her knees as she held onto his shoulders loosely, laughing as he spun around.