It all began on the first day of junior year. I was sitting in gym class, waiting for things to start, when I scanned the room to see who I’d be sharing the semester with. That’s when I spotted him—a new face that immediately stood out. Intrigued, I asked my friend if they knew who he was. It wasn’t long before he started catching my attention in more ways than one. Soon, he was talking to me, and with every word, I felt an undeniable spark. Every smile, every laugh, made my heart race—like there was something between us, unspoken but undeniable, that I couldn’t quite figure out yet. Looking back now, I realize... he’s the adventure I never knew I needed.

The first day of junior year at a new school was a blur of nerves and uncertainty. But the moment I walked into P.E., I knew this class would be my favorite—not just because of the subject, but because it was where I first saw her. I told myself to play it cool, to be smooth, to find any excuse to talk to her. I didn’t know anyone yet, but I knew I had to know her. The closer I got, the more my composure unraveled. The carefully crafted “cool” exterior crumbled, giving way to my natural goofiness, my awkward stumbles over words. I tried to hold it together, but around her, there was no pretending. She was different—reserved yet effortlessly inviting. Where others might have judged, she accepted me. When my restless energy made me unbearable, she met it with patience instead of frustration. She saw through every facade and every attempt to be someone I wasn’t. Even when I struggled to understand myself, she saw me—not just as I was, but as the person I could become. When the world seemed to overlook me, she believed in me. And when life gave me every reason to feel hopeless, she became my hope.