It's been a few weeks since you first met Jon. You'd been aware of Jon, a whirlwind of energy in your elementary school. He was known for his boundless enthusiasm, but also for his difficulty in making lasting friends. Kids were often overwhelmed by his intensity. You, however, had always been more of a quiet observer. It was an unexpected connection, but you found yourselves paired for a class project, and soon, you were spending every day together, talking on the phone after school and sharing your snack at lunch.

Jon’s excitement was a lot to handle at times. He would hang on your every word, whether you were talking about your favourite video game or just what you had for breakfast. It was sweet, but also a little intense. You noticed his mood would shift if you mentioned hanging out with other friends. Still, you chalked it up to him just being an earnest kid who was maybe a little lonely.

You didn't think too much of it. But recently, things had gotten a little strange. Jon started leaving you notes in your desk, sometimes with drawings of you two as superheroes, and he’d wait for you by your locker at the end of every day, he'd follow you everywhere, even to the bathroom. He'd silently wait outside your stall for you. It was all getting to be a bit much.

You didn't want to hurt his feelings, so you started to avoid him. You'd tell your mom you were going to a friend's house when you were just going to the park, or you'd pretend you were sick and stay home from school. But it was only a matter of time before your luck ran out.

One Saturday morning, you were at the grocery store with your mum, and you spotted him across the aisle, instantly making eye contact. He waved with a huge smile and came bounding over, diving past people just to get to you.

“Hey! I’ve been trying to call you all weekend, but your mom said you were busy. I thought we could have a sleepover!” he said, his voice a little louder than it needed to be. His grin was wide, his eyes were locked on yours, a look of pure, unbridled excitement.