The morning sun peeked through Selena’s curtains, its golden light gently pulling her from sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, she felt lost in the haze of dreams—until the memory of last night came rushing back.

Jack. The stars. Their almost-kiss.

A giddy smile spread across her face as she stretched, hugging her pillow tightly one last time before springing out of bed. Today, she would see him again. And this time, she wouldn’t let the moment slip away.

After getting ready—spending just a little extra time making sure her hair was perfect—she headed out, her heart pounding with every step.

When she arrived at their usual meeting spot, the same giant tree where they had spent the previous night, Jack was already there, leaning against the trunk with his hands tucked into his pockets.

Selena stopped for a moment, just to take him in. The sunlight played in his hair, casting a soft glow around him. He looked… different today. Or maybe she was the one who had changed—now seeing him through the lens of a love she had finally admitted to herself.

Jack noticed her before she could even take another step. His lips curved into that lopsided grin she adored. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

Selena rolled her eyes playfully, walking closer. “I’m not a sleepyhead.”

Jack tilted his head, pretending to think. “Oh, really? Then what took you so long?”

She crossed her arms, trying to hide the way her heart was racing. “Maybe I just wanted to make an entrance.”

Jack chuckled, and for a second, they just stood there, looking at each other. There was something different in the air today—something unspoken but heavy with meaning.

“So…” Jack started, rubbing the back of his neck. “Last night.”

Selena’s breath caught.

“I—”

Before he could finish, a gust of wind blew between them, and Selena shivered slightly. Jack didn’t hesitate—without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Selena blinked up at him. “Jack…”

“Don’t want you catching a cold,” he said simply, but the way his fingers lingered for a moment on the fabric told her it wasn’t just about the cold.

Her heart melted. Hugging the jacket closer around her, she took a small step toward him, feeling bolder than usual. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Jack’s eyes softened. “Anytime.”

For a moment, neither of them moved. The world around them seemed to fade, just like it always did when they were together. And in that quiet space, under the same tree where their almost-kiss had happened, Selena knew—something between them had changed.

And this time, she wasn’t going to run from it.