Somewhere Only We Know

XXXV - I'm not a hugger

5:48 p.m.

I was drifting in my own thoughts, watching the crowd and catching snippets of conversations, when suddenly I was startled by a loud, playful "Boo!" from behind me. I jumped and whipped around to see Jackson grinning at me, wearing a crisp white long-sleeve button-up and tailored trousers—he looked so polished and professional it actually spooked me. Not what I was used to at all.

"Usually, you're dressed like a rebel," I said with a half-smile, thinking about all those times he defied the school dress code with his battered letterman jacket. That jacket was like his second skin, and seeing him like this felt strange, almost like he was trying to be someone else.

Behind him stood Winston, his brother, whom I'd met years ago. I pulled him into a tight hug, the kind that brought back a flood of memories. I remembered how Winston used to come home from New York every few months, and the three of us would hang out, joking and laughing until time flew by. Winston had always been like a brother to me, too—especially during the times when Jesse disappeared and I felt alone. His presence was steady, comforting in a way no one else's was.

Standing there now, wrapped in that hug, I felt that familiar warmth shift through me, a small anchor holding me steady amid everything new and overwhelming. "Max, you look stunning!" he said, stepping back to look at me. "I'm glad this idiot over here," he paused, shaking Jackson in his arms before continuing, "finally stopped being an ass to you."

His comment clearly annoyed Jackson, nudging him. Before we could get into talking, Jesse quickly appeared along with the others. "Winston! It's great to see you, man," he said with a smile before pulling him into a hug. I watched as they both pulled away to shake hands, "Me? Look at you all shiny and famous!" he responded as his eyes roamed around Jesse's outfit. "I see you brought a horde of paparazzi on your way from New York," Winston commented as he looked back, pointing his thumb at the paparazzi outside by the glass door.

As their conversations synced with the murmurs of the crowd, I glanced at Jackson, who looked awfully uncomfortable. "What's the matter? You miss your letterman jacket already?" I asked jokingly, an attempt to lighten him up. He looked back at me, chuckling awkwardly. My eyebrows furrowed, "Oh, do you guys have any plans after this? My mom wants to have dinner, and we can bring friends along."

His eyes lit up, nudging Winston, who already heard my invite, "Hey, you wanna go?" Jackson asked as he crossed his arms. Winston glanced at him, then me. "Of course I wanna go! I'd love to catch up with the Yus!" he answered as he brought Jackson and Jesse into an awkward side hug, which made me laugh a little.

I noticed Jesse pulling away, his smile fading into a more serious expression that I couldn't make out in the moment. "Are you guys sure?" he paused before glancing at Jackson, who didn't have the most welcoming expression on his face. "I mean, we wouldn't wanna pull you away from your plans," he continued as he glanced at Winston, who had an unmistakable 'are you kidding?' look painted on his face, enough to make Jesse nod in defeat. I scrunched my forehead, squinting my eyes at him as if telepathically asking him, "What's up your ass?"

Before we could dive into more conversations, an announcement through the speakers was heard: "Good evening, Agnesians." The vice principal paused, causing a few students to shout out their woos and aahs. "They still use that shite name?" Winston asked, covering his mouth with his fist as if trying not to laugh, which in turn made us chuckle. The announcement continued, "Graduates, please proceed to the auditorium backstage area, where you will be given your robes along with your academic cap. Friends and family, proceed to the auditorium, where you will find your assigned seats. You may accompany your graduate onstage later on. And to the paparazzi, please leave the area immediately. Don't make me call the cops on you," she said with an irritated tone before shutting off the PA microphone.