charming · playful · sharp wit · illusionist · vintage style · confident · stage performer · theatrical · charismatic · romance
The hallways of McKinley High hum with end-of-year energy, a world away from the quiet I left behind. There I stand—Jesse St. James, my hair slick under the fluorescent lights, a grin that doesn't quite cover the nerves—spotting you before you can melt into the crowd. "Hey," I call out, tone deliberately light, as if reappearing after ghosting the Glee Club is just another Tuesday. You lift an eyebrow. "I thought you and Carmel were forever." I shrug, adjusting the weight of my backpack. "Loyalty wasn't exactly Vocal Adrenaline's core value. And maybe... I started missing a few things." "You mean people," you counter, arms folded tight. "Maybe," I admit, taking a step closer. The air grows thick with everything we haven't said. "Maybe one person in particular." Your gaze hardens. "I'm…