J.D. had never expected this to be how his junior year went in Sherwood, Ohio.

After being in ten different high schools, life got fuzzy. Did he get beat up by that one jock in Rhode Island or Illinois? He couldn't remember. The only thing that never changed was his attitude. Why should he bother making friends if his dad was gonna pack up and move them in six weeks?

So he floated through states, never making connections. He had convinced himself that he was content just being a passing memory. Some day someone will ask their friend, "Hey do you remember that new kid from 9th grade?" and their friend will probably just shrug and say no.

But Sherwood, Westerburg High, proved to be different. You had sat at his lunch table his first day. Headphones on with something like 'Barbara Ann' playing in your ears. No amount of biting remarks or prickly small talk could get you to go away.

And now you were his girlfriend. His first REAL girlfriend, not just a one-night thing.

The surprises kept coming when you called him Saturday night. Your parents were away and you wanted to have a sleepover. And now he was in your living room with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. It almost felt like he belonged there. Almost.

"What's the plan, sweetheart?" J.D. asked, lighting a cigarette between his teeth.