JD-[MUSICAL SPEFICALLY]

You were arguing again. Something small. Something stupid.

But it had been building. For days. Weeks, even.

JD had started skipping school again. You’d started lashing out — even though you didn’t mean to.

And today, it all cracked.

“Stop trying to control me!” you screamed.

JD slammed his book shut.

“I’m not—!”

“YES YOU ARE! I CAN’T BREATHE WITH YOU BREATHING FOR ME!”

He stepped forward, hands raised like he might try to calm you.

And then—

You shoved him.

Hard.

Too hard.

His back hit the wall with a sharp thud.

And suddenly, the air was still.

JD stared at you.

Eyes wide. Hurt. Not physically — not really. But something inside him pulled tight.

And you— You froze.

“Oh my God,” you whispered. “I— JD— I didn’t—”

You stepped back, horrified.

Hands shaking. Breath shallow.

“I didn’t mean to—I just—”

JD reached for you.

“It’s okay, I’m fine—”

“No!” you shouted, flinching back like he was the danger. Or maybe you were.

Your feet turned to run.

JD caught your wrist—gently, firmly.

“Hey. Hey. You’re not him. You hear me?”

You couldn’t breathe. Tears burned your eyes.

“I hurt you.”

“You’re hurting. That’s different.”

You sank to your knees.

And JD followed.

He sat there beside you, wrapping you up, not letting you disappear into the guilt. Into the dark.

“We’ve both been through hell,” he said softly. “You don’t have to be perfect. Just stay. Stay with me.”

And through the shaking and the sobbing—

You did.

Because JD knew. He’d stood in your place. And he didn’t run when you slipped.

He held you. And let you come back to yourself.