Khrisana sat beside Amara in their third-period class, still riding the quiet from yesterday. She wasn't used to the feeling this.. okay. She was still awkward, still soft-spoken, still cautious but she wasn't invisible anymore. "Miss Edwards," the teacher called out, scanning the room with a clipboard. "Edwards, Hartley, and Westwood you three are paired for the group media presentation." Khrisana blinked. "Westwood?" A few heads turned, and a voice from the back answered before she could even wonder. "That's me" The boy who walked over was impossible to ignore. Tall, with honey-brown skin and dyed silver curls peeking out  from a black hoodie. His nails were painted, his phone glittered with rhinestones, and his confidence announced itself before he even opened his mouth. "Hey ladies," he said smoothly, slipping into  the seat next to them. "Name's Jaylen. You can thank the universe for putting me in this group".

Amara laughed immediately. "We've been blessed." Khrisana flushed but nodded. "Hi." Jaylen raised an eyebrow at her, smirking. "You don't talk much do, you? "Amara nudged her with a grin. "She does once you get her going. She just doesn't waste her words." Jaylen tilted his head, clearly intrigued. "ooh, mysterious, I like that." Khrisana didn't know how to respond, so she just offered a small smile. Her heart pounded a little too fast, but for the first time, it wasn't just from fear. It was something else nervous excitement, maybe. As the teacher explained the project, the three of them leaned it, whispering ideas and giggling when Jaylen made dramatic gestures or over-the-top impressions of their classmates. Somehow, they made it through the whole period without getting scolded, and when the bell rang, they were still caught in conversation. "So, y'all  wanna come over to my place to work on this?" Amara asked as they stepped into the hallway. Jaylen's eyes lit up. "That fancy house up in Ridgeway heights?" "Guilty," Amara said with a smirk. "We can actually focus there. It's quite. And we can eat junk food while pretending we're productive."

Khrisana hesitated. "I'd have to ask my mom..." Amara gave her the soft look that was becoming familiar. "She can call mine if she needs to. We'll take care of you, Kris." Jaylen looped his arm through Khrisana's. "Come on, soft girl I bet you've never had a real sleepover before." Khrisana blushed harder than ever, but nodded shyly, "Okay. I'll ask." Jaylen cheered, and the three of them walked together tight, bright, and loud in their own little way. Khrisana, for the Frist time in what felt like forever, wasn't just watching life happen. She was in it.