The amazing date

The final bell rang at Scott Valley Junior High, and the hallways exploded into noise again.

Lockers slammed.

Students rushed toward buses.

Someone shouted about homework they forgot to turn in.

Jacoby Morrison stepped outside the building, stretching his arms dramatically.

“Freedom,” he said quietly.

Next to him, Matthew adjusted his backpack and smiled.

“So,” Matthew said, “you mentioned something earlier.”

Jacoby tilted his head.

“What?”

Matthew looked at him with a teasing expression.

“You said we should go on a date after school.”

Jacoby blinked.

“Oh.”

Then he remembered.

“Oh.”

His cheeks turned pink.

“I did say that.”

Matthew chuckled.

“Well?”

Jacoby suddenly straightened his posture.

“YES.”

A few nearby students turned to stare.

Jacoby lowered his voice immediately.

“…I mean yes.”

Matthew laughed.

⸻

Twenty Minutes Later

The two of them were walking down the small street outside town.

Jacoby kicked a small rock along the sidewalk while Matthew walked beside him.

“So,” Matthew said casually, “where are we going?”

Jacoby thought for a second.

Then he pointed dramatically down the road.

“Anywhere that is not Taco Bell.”

Matthew raised an eyebrow.

“That specific?”

Jacoby looked at him with deep seriousness.

“You don’t understand the horrors I experienced.”

Matthew laughed.

“Fair enough.”

They eventually stopped at a small burger place down the street.

Inside, the restaurant was warm and smelled like fries and grilled burgers.

They grabbed a booth by the window.

Jacoby immediately pulled his sleeves over his hands and leaned across the table.

“So,” he said. “You just randomly move here and don’t tell me?”

Matthew shrugged.

“I tried.”

Jacoby groaned.

“Right… the phone thing.”

Matthew smirked.

“Yeah. Being grounded really ruined the surprise.”

Jacoby crossed his arms dramatically.

“You could’ve sent a letter.”

Matthew stared at him.

“…a letter?”

Jacoby shrugged.

“Romantic.”

Matthew laughed again.

They ordered food and started talking.

At first it was normal things:

• school

• the move to California

• Matthew’s new house

But eventually the conversation drifted into sillier territory.

Jacoby told him about the Taco Bell disaster.

Matthew nearly choked on his drink laughing.

“You recorded your teacher in the bathroom?”

“I DIDN’T PLAN THAT,” Jacoby said defensively.

Matthew wiped his eyes.

“That might be the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Jacoby pouted.

“It was traumatic.”

⸻

Later

The sun was beginning to set outside.

The sky turned orange and pink as they walked back down the quiet street.

Jacoby walked slightly ahead, spinning once dramatically.

“I missed you,” he admitted.

Matthew smiled softly.

“I missed you too.”

Jacoby stopped walking.

He looked slightly nervous now.

“…even when everyone at school is being annoying.”

Matthew stepped closer.

“They’ll stop eventually.”

Jacoby shrugged.

“Maybe.”

Then he looked up at him.

“But it’s easier when you’re here.”

Matthew gently bumped his shoulder.

“Then I’ll stay.”

For a moment they just stood there in the quiet evening.

Cars passed in the distance.

The air felt calm.

Jacoby’s cheeks turned pink again.

“…can I—”

Matthew already knew what he meant.

He smiled.

Jacoby leaned forward and gave him a quick, shy kiss.

It only lasted a second.

But when Jacoby pulled back he was smiling.

“Okay,” he said. “That was nice.”

Matthew chuckled.

“You’re adorable.”

Jacoby covered his face with his sleeves.

“Don’t say that.”

Matthew laughed.

They started walking again down the street.

For once, Jacoby didn’t feel lonely.

For once…

He felt like things might actually get better.

But high above the clouds—

A small glowing meteor streaked through the sky.

Heading straight toward Earth.

And very soon…

Jacoby Morrison’s life was about to get much, much weirder

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