𝐌𝐘 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 - 𝖩𝖶

𝟎.𝟎.𝟑 - 𝖧𝖾'𝗌 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄

➤ •၊၊||၊|။||||။||၊|• 0:03
𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

The Tuesday afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds of Emerson's room, casting a glow on the chaos. Massy sat on the couch in the corner, her phone held above her face as she scrolled through TikTok. Jade leaned against the wall, laughing at something she'd just shown Marissa, who was seated cross-legged on the floor. Emerson, sat on her bed, glanced up from her phone, smirking at her friends' antics.

"Okay, but I swear, the algorithm knows everything about me," Marissa said, holding up her phone to show a video. "This is like the fifth time this guy has popped up."

Massy leaned over to look. "The one with the curly hair? Girl, TikTok's just trying to tell you he's your soulmate."

"Can't be worse than your 'cat conspiracy' for you page," Jade teased, earning a dramatic eye roll from Massy.

"I like what I like," Massy replied, unapologetic.

Emerson laughed, her phone buzzing in her hand. She glanced at the screen and froze. A text from Javon lit up her phone: "I'm outside."

Her heart did a little flip, though she quickly played it off. "Oh my gosh, Javon's here!"

The girls immediately perked up, their TikToks forgotten.

"Wait, wait!" Jade said, sitting upright. "We need details. What's he wearing? Does he look like his pictures? Is he taller than you? This is important."

"I don't know yet!" Emerson replied, grabbing her ugg's and heading toward the door. "I'll bring him up. Be nice!"

"Always," Massy said with a grin, nudging Jade.

Emerson bounced down the stairs. It had been two months since she'd last seen Javon in person, and even though they talked all the time, nothing compared to having him here. She swung the front door open and broke into a wide smile.

There he was- backpack slung over one shoulder, a gray hoodie stretched across his broad shoulders, and his usual grin firmly in place.

"Finally!" Emerson said, throwing her arms around him in a hug. He hugged her back tightly, the familiar warmth of him immediately putting her at ease.

"You act like it's been years," Javon teased, stepping inside and glancing around.

"It feels like it," she shot back, closing the door behind him.

As they climbed the stairs, Javon chuckled. "What's the damage? Are they gonna grill me, or are they chill?"

"Probably both," Emerson admitted with a laugh.

When they entered her room, all three girls turned to look at him at once. The room went quiet for a beat as they took him in. Javon, unbothered, offered a casual wave.

"Hey," he said, his tone warm. "Nice to meet you guys."

"Nice to meet you too," Marissa said first, her smile polite but her eyes unmistakably scanning him.

Massy nudged Jade subtly. "Okay, he's actually cute," she whispered, but not quietly enough.

Emerson whipped her head around. "Massy!"

"What?" Massy said innocently, throwing up her hands.

Javon laughed, brushing it off. "No pressure or anything, right?"

"None at all," Jade said with a grin. "We're just excited to finally meet you. Emerson never shuts up about you."

Emerson groaned, flopping onto the bed. "Why do I even bring you guys around?"