Jackson

For a long minute after Noah walked off, everything just… stopped.

The music still pulsed through the walls, but it sounded far away — like it was underwater.

Daniel was leaning against a truck, one hand pressed to his split lip, muttering curses under his breath. A few kids hung back, whispering, eyes wide, phones still raised like this was just another piece of Ridgeville drama to post about later.

And me?

I just stood there, heart pounding, watching Noah disappear ...