Page 108 of Notice Me, Jameson Hart

“Jameson,” I breathe.

“I bought this for your birthday,” he says, his voice soft enough that only I can hear him. “But I was too scared to give it to you then. Thought it might be weird, you know? Some random guy from the football team giving you jewelry.”

“You’ve had this since my birthday?”

He nods, looking unsure, which is not an expression I’m used to seeing on Jameson Hart. “I saw it at that little shop downtown and immediately thought of you. But then I chickened out, and then summer happened, and then the boat thing happened, and I could never find the right moment. I thought about giving it to you at the animal shelter, but was afraid that one of the dogs would try and eat it.”

“So you think the right moment is on top of a death trap?” I ask, but I’m smiling so hard my face hurts.

“Actually, yeah.” He takes my wrist gently, fastening the bracelet with careful fingers. “Because in about thirty seconds, we’re going to jump off this thing together. And if I die, I want you to remember that I’ve been thinking about you for a lot longer than just this summer.”

“What about ifIdie?”

“You’re not going to die, Kevin. You’re going tolive.”

The way he sayslive, I know he’s not talking about surviving the jump.

I stare down at the bracelet. It’s the perfect weight—substantial enough to know it’s there, but not heavy enough to be annoying. It’s thoughtful and personal and everything I never knew I wanted.

“I love it,” I say.

Jameson’s face breaks into the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. “Now, are you ready to jump?”

“Not even a little bit.”

He takes my hand, interlacing our fingers. “You jump, I jump?”

“And you’ll never let go?”

“Never.” He winks.

Screams of terror and exhilaration echo across the lake as bodies plummet into the darkness. Each splash is followed by triumphant whooping as jumpers surface, confirming they’ve survived.

“On three?” Jameson suggests.

I nod, gripping his hand tighter. The bracelet presses against my wrist, a reminder of all that’s led to this moment.

“One,” we say together.

I think about Robbie, probably watching from below, still angry but still my brother.

“Two.”

I think about Adam, willing to fly across the country to find himself.

“Three!”

And then I think about myself. Holding hands with the boy who has my heart, jumping into the unknown.

For a second, we’re suspended in the air. Smiles on our faces, and a song in our hearts.

The world drops away—the trestle, the party, all the complicated, messy, beautiful things that make up our lives. There’s only me and Jameson and the terrifying freedom of falling.

Then we hit the water.

It’s shockingly cold, driving all the air from my lungs. We plunge deep, our hands torn apart by the impact. Suddenly, I’m alone in the dark water, disoriented and scared.

I kick my feet and break the surface, sucking in air. My head whips around, searching for my boyfriend. But I should have already known—Jameson is never far away. He’s treading water beside me, his hair plastered to his head and his smile illuminated in the darkness by his incredibly white teeth.