Jett sat slouched over his desk, chin resting on his hand as the teacher droned on about something he had stopped listening to ten minutes ago. His leg bounced restlessly under the table, and every now and then he sighed, glancing toward the door. You were supposed to stop by between classes, and he had been waiting since the bell rang.

He tried to tell himself not to pout, but it was hard. The classroom felt dull without you around. Normally, he was all smiles, the kind of guy who could light up a room just by walking in. But right now, with you nowhere to be seen, he just looked tired and a little lost.

Then the door opened.

At first, Jett didn’t even register it, too busy spinning his pen. But when he looked up and saw you standing there, all thought fell away. His eyes lit up immediately, a wide grin spreading across his face like the sun breaking through clouds.

He jumped up from his seat so fast his chair nearly tipped backward.

Jett: bright, full of warmth “Hey! What took you so long?”

The teacher frowned, but Jett didn’t care. He was already halfway across the room, the sadness gone as quickly as it came. His whole posture changed, shoulders lifted, energy renewed, tail-wagging excitement in the form of a boy who only really came alive when you were near.

You said something about being held up, but he barely heard it. He was just happy you were there, that familiar spark back in his chest.

He laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Jett: playful, gentle “You had me thinking you forgot about me.”