Sarah leaves him and he sees his friends for the first time since last school year, and they are different

Sarah’s fingers slipped off his shoulder like she couldn’t get away fast enough. “Later, loser,” she mumbled, already jogging toward the gym doors where Lacey’s neon bikini top flashed under the morning sun. John’s tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth—dry as the dirt under his busted phone screen.

A shadow loomed over him, but it wasn’t Jamal’s this time. “Bro, you good?” Bryan’s voice cracked mid-sentence, like it still hadn’t settled after his growth spurt. John blinked up at him. Same dorky grin, same crooked glasses, but… fuck. Bryan’s shoulders filled out his Star Wars tee now, the fabric straining around his biceps. His jeans hung low on hips that weren’t swimming in fabric anymore.

Grace crouched next to him, her knee popping audibly. “Shit, your screen’s wrecked.” Her glasses slid down her nose—same dorky pink frames she’d worn since seventh grade—but her lips were glossy now, and her hoodie clung to curves John didn’t remember. The scent of her strawberry shampoo hit him hard enough to make his dick twitch again.

Bryan hauled him up by the elbow. “Dude, you’re shaking.” His palm was rough—calluses from football drills.