Matthew and Jay were still at Bridgeton Middle, just a little older now — more confident in who they were, more open about it too. It was weird at first, holding hands in the hallway or kissing behind the gym, but eventually people just got used to them. Jay made sure of that, announcing it proudly on day one: “That’s right, I’m dating Matthew MacDell, and he’s way out of my league!”

Matthew rolled his eyes, but the truth was, he didn’t mind. Not when Jay looked at him like that — like he hung the stars.

They still sat with the same group at lunch. Jessi teased them constantly, Nick asked a million questions, and Missy blushed every time they so much as brushed hands. But it was normal now. Good.

Jay still got overly emotional and talked too loud. Matthew still rolled his eyes and called him a disaster. But when Jay leaned his head on Matthew’s shoulder during boring classes, or when Matthew helped Jay study in the quiet of the library — it was clear. They worked.

Love, in its weird, messy, middle school way, had found them. And they were all in.