We Are In Love In NYC

Characters and Prologue

Jordan Baker

High school: Beverly Hills High

College: Bringston University Atlanta (First semester, first year), University of North Carolina. Major: Sports Management

Career: Quarterback, North Carolina Panthers

Layla Keating

High School: Homeschooled

College: New York University. Major (Business Administration and Music)

MBA: Columbia Business School.

Career: Award-winning Indie Producer and Composer

Spencer James

High School: Beverly Hills High

College: University of North Carolina. Major: Psychology

Career: Wide receiver, North Carolina Panthers 

Olivia Baker

High school: Beverly Hills High

College: Columbia University. Major: Journalism and Photography

Career: Freelance Journalist. Featured works in the New York Times and The New Yorker

Asher Adams

High School: Beverly Hills High

College: Coastal University California. Major: Human Resource Management

Career: Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Rams

Tamia 'Coop' Cooper

High school: Crenshaw High

College: New York University, Major: Music

Career: Hip Hop artist, DJ, and Producer

Patience Roberts

High school: Crenshaw High

College: New York University. Major: Music

Career: Alternate pop artist

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Prologue

Jordan Baker knew deep down that the time for frivolities had come to an end as the grains of sand slipped through his fingers, falling onto his father's coffin six feet beneath the ground. Like the gentle drizzle that tapped against their umbrella, the mingling of rain and soil staining their shoes, and the distant echoes of thunder, their world crumbled before them. The preacher's words became a distant murmur as Jordan retreated further into his thoughts.

On the day of their high school graduation, Billy Baker had taken a detour to meet with his players, marking the official end of their football season. But he never made it back. The only fragments Jordan could grasp amidst the shattering news were "drunk driver," "red light," and the devastating truth that his father was gone. His mother, Laura Baker, had been inconsolable since that day, her eyes hidden behind dark shades that barely concealed her shattered soul. Olivia, his sister, clung tightly to Spencer, their shared grief pouring forth in anguished sobs. Jordan was grateful for Spencer, who had become an integral part of their family since losing his father, Corey James, his dad's childhood best friend, back in middle school. Spencer's mother, Grace, had relocated with his brother, Dillion, leaving Spencer with the Bakers. They had grown up together, bound by an unbreakable bond that birthed an intense friendship and love between Spencer and his twin sister, Liv. As Jordan glanced at Spencer, he saw the weight of pain and anger etched upon his face, held at bay by sheer willpower. Jordan, too, held it together, for the sake of everyone around him.

Stepping away as the grave was covered, Simone slipped her hand into his, a quiet reminder of her unwavering presence. Sometimes, he wished he possessed the ability to articulate the depth of his gratitude for her unwavering support. He had always yearned for a love that transcended the ordinary, and he believed he had found it in Simone. Yet, an undeniable longing for something more tugged at his heart, a feeling he suspected Simone shared as well. They were both leaving for Georgia, bound for college, while Liv and Spencer set their sights on North Carolina. Liv had also gained admission to Columbia University, New York but despite her attempts to convince their father that the journalism program in North Carolina was superior, they all knew her true motive was love. It was what they all needed—a respite from the suffocating pain, surrounded by the ones they cherished.

Or so Jordan thought.

Layla Keating was aware that her life would never be the same. What was supposed to be the first day of Junior High turned into a day of profound loss. Her mother, who was meant to help her choose an outfit for school, never returned home. The chance for Layla to experience a semblance of a normal high school life, free from the constant upheaval of travelling to different countries whenever her mother went on tour, was abruptly shattered by a fatal accident caused by a drunk driver running a red light. She had always felt like an outsider, perpetually on the fringes of her parents' fame in the music industry. With her producer father and pop star mother, popularity came hand in hand with isolation. Grief weighed heavily on her, and she struggled to accept the fact that her mother was gone. Her father, JP Keating, became her rock, never faltering in his support and always by her side, even as he grappled with his grief.

Recognizing that his beloved daughter was not yet equipped to face the world, JP arranged for a certified tutor to homeschool her throughout high school. It was during this period that Layla and her father grew closer than ever, navigating the daunting task of moving forward without the love of their lives. When the time came, Layla applied to NYU and was accepted. She knew that she had to venture out on her own to allow her father the opportunity to rediscover himself and create a life after her mother. Her time at NYU proved to be a relatively smooth transition, and she was fortunate to meet Coop and Patience in one of her classes. Coming from LA and having married in high school, their love story seemed both improbable and timeless, reminiscent of the connection her parents shared. Layla often hoped to find a love like theirs, but after a string of unsuccessful attempts, she had grown weary and ceased actively searching. To offset the costs of pursuing her MBA at Columbia, she decided to rent out the second room in her apartment, which also served as her home office. It was during this search for a roommate that she crossed paths with Olivia Baker, a Columbia alumna and journalist.