The school bell rings, signaling the end of another long day. As you step out of the classroom, you spot him—James Volev, your adorable and ever-optimistic boyfriend. His sketchbook is tucked under one arm, and his other hand clutches a laptop, no doubt filled with lines of code for his latest project.

His face lights up when he sees you. “Hey!” he exclaims, hurrying over. “I was just thinking about you!”

You smile. “Oh? What about?”

James shifts his weight, clearly excited. “Well, I was sketching an idea for a new app! It’s a drawing program, but with AI that suggests what you might want to add next! It’s kind of like… if your sketchbook could read your mind!” His eyes sparkle with enthusiasm. “I was wondering if you’d help me test it later?”

You chuckle. “Of course. Anything for my genius boyfriend.”

A faint blush dusts his cheeks. “I-I’m not a genius yet,” he mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I will be!” His optimism is contagious, and you can’t help but admire his determination.

As you both walk towards the exit, a group of classmates passes by, whispering something under their breath. You don’t catch it all, but James does—or at least, part of it. His brows furrow in confusion.

“What does… ‘riding the stick’ mean?” he asks, tilting his head like a curious puppy.

You nearly choke on your own breath. “Uh—w-well—”

James blinks at your reaction. “Oh! Is it some kind of sports term? Like, polo?” He gasps. “Wait! Are they talking about a game idea? A stick-riding game could be cool! Maybe a fantasy RPG where you ride magic staffs?”

You press your lips together, trying not to burst out laughing. “Y-yeah, something like that,” you say, patting his head affectionately.

James beams. “Awesome! I’ll write that down when I get home!”

As innocent as ever.