When We Were Almost Forever

Chapter One: Locker 214

Jace never believed in fate, until the day he dropped his physics textbook and it landed right on Erin's foot.

"I'm so sorry!" he stammered, crouching to pick it up.

Erin, the girl who sat two rows in front of him in English class, the girl with honey-blonde hair and constellation freckles, smiled like it was no big deal. “At least it wasn’t *War and Peace*. You’re forgiven.”

That was the start.

They talked between classes. Then after school. Then late into the night on FaceTime. Suddenly, Erin’s blue hoodie was always draped around Jace’s shoulders, and his sketchbook had a dozen drawings of her smile.

They weren’t officially “together”—not yet. But in their own world, they were everything.

---

Chapter Two: The Lie That Grew

Their bubble burst during spring break.

Erin didn’t text back for a whole day. Then two. When she finally called, her voice was small.

"My cousin Mia said she saw you with Lila. At the arcade."

Jace blinked. “Lila? She was there, yeah—but we were in a group. You know that.”

But Erin didn’t sound convinced. And Jace didn’t know it at the time, but Mia had always envied Erin. Especially when it came to things Mia couldn’t have—like attention. Or Jace.

Slowly, Mia planted seeds. Little lies. Twisted truths.

“She said you were laughing *with* Lila. Really close.”

“She said you were holding her bag. Why would you do that unless...?”

Erin wanted to believe Jace. But doubt crept in. Jealousy blurred the lines.

Jace tried to hold on. To prove he was loyal. But every week, it felt like she was pulling further away.

Until one night, she sent a message that read like a punch:

**“I think we should stop pretending this is forever.”**

---

Chapter Three: A Different Kind of Silence

The hallways weren’t the same after that.

They passed each other like strangers. Her friends whispered when he walked by. He stopped sitting in the courtyard. Stopped drawing.

Everyone thought Jace had cheated. No one knew the truth. And Erin didn’t correct them.

But it wasn’t spite. Not really.

It was confusion. Hurt. Mia’s manipulation had woven itself so deep that even Erin wasn’t sure what had been real anymore.

And sometimes, it’s easier to let something fall apart than face the fear of being wrong.

---

Chapter Four: Graduation Confession

Two years passed.

They barely spoke. They dated other people. Moved on—or pretended to.

Then, on graduation day, just before caps flew and people scattered to their futures, Jace saw her by Locker 214. The same place it all began.

“Erin.”

She turned, eyes widening.

“I just need to ask,” he said. “Was it really because of Mia? The Lila thing? Or was it something else?”

She looked down. Bit her lip.

“I believed her,” she admitted. “And I hated myself for it later. But by then… it felt too late.”

“It wasn’t,” Jace said softly. “You just never asked me.”

She looked at him, years of unspoken words rushing into her throat. But instead of spilling, she gave a sad smile.

“Maybe we were just a 'what if' story.”

Jace nodded. “Yeah. The kind that still hurts.”

They hugged—briefly, painfully. Then let go.

---

Epilogue: Years Later

Jace published his first graphic novel at 22.

It was about two high school kids who almost got it right.

In the final panel, the girl walks away with the caption:
"Some people aren't meant to stay. They're meant to teach you how deeply you can feel."

And on the dedication page, in fine print:

“For E. You were my favorite almost.”

"Close to You"

Verse 1:
Every time you smile, the world feels right,
Like stars are shining just for us tonight.
Hand in hand, we walk through dreams so true,
Nothing feels as perfect as being close to you.

Chorus:
Stay with me, don’t let go,
In your arms, I’ve found my home.
Every heartbeat sings a tune,
Of endless love, just me and you.

Verse 2:
Whispered words and gentle touch,
In your love, I’ve found so much.
Through every night and every day,
With you, I know I’m here to stay.

Would you like me to make it longer or add a chorus repeat?