Brandon POV
I straightened in my seat, though it wasn't intentional—more of an instinct than a thought. My spine locked, and my shoulders squared as Garrett approached, as if my body had already decided this was something I needed to brace for.
Half of me wondered what he wanted, while the other half hoped. I hoped that sitting here with my friends—loud, confident, and untouchable—would somehow make him feel small, intimidated, and out of place. I didn't know why I felt that way.
But the moment he stepped closer, I realized that wasn't going to happen. Garrett wore confidence like it belonged to him—easy and effortless. It wasn't loud like ours but steady and grounded, the kind that didn't need validation.
Before I could settle into the version of myself I wanted him to see, he spoke.
"Hey, Brandon," he said, his tone warm and almost excited. "I was just about to leave, but I wanted to say this—"
He paused, smiling.
"That was a mind-blowing performance."
