Jessa

The 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. ...