Noah

Saturday night, and Daniel’s house is already packed to the brim.

Music pounds through the speakers, shaking the walls, while the scent of cheap beer, pizza, and too many bodies crammed together lingers in the air. Laughter and shouting mingle, filling every corner of the house. Typical weekend chaos in Ridgefield.

Jackson and I push our way through the crowd, and as usual, everyone gravitates toward him instantly. Being the star quarterback makes him the unofficial king of this ...