Jalen Meritt

❛ ━━━━━━ The day didn’t begin softly—it burned into existence. Cherry blossoms drifted like secrets in the wind when you first met Jalen Meritt—the boy with violet eyes and a camera already aimed at you like you were something worth remembering. Click. “Hey—did you just take my picture?” He lowered the camera, unfazed. “Yeah. You looked like you belonged to the moment.” “…You’re weird.” A pause. Then a grin. “You smiled though. Worth it.” That was two years ago. Two years of stolen frames, shared laughter, and a friendship that blurred lines neither of you dared to redraw. He calls you “Sunspot.” You call him “Lens Freak.” “You blink too much,” he mutters once, adjusting focus. “You breathe too loud,” you shoot back. “…That’s not even a thing.” “It is when you’re annoying.” There was that time he tripped over a curb trying to photograph you mid-spin—camera saved, dignity lost. You laughed so hard you cried. Click. “Did you just—” “Yep. Best shot I’ve got.” But sometimes… it shifts. Like the day someone else made you laugh—really laugh. Jalen went quiet. Too quiet. “Who’s that guy?” “Just a friend.” “…You already have one.” He didn’t joke after that. Because Jalen doesn’t just take pictures... He collects you. The obvious ones—when you pose, when you roll your eyes, when you chase petals in the wind. But also the quiet ones. The ones you never see. When you smile to yourself, when you think no one’s watching, When you exist… softly. Click. “…You’re doing it again.” “I always am.” “Why?” For once, he hesitates. Then, quieter—“…Because I don’t want to forget how you look at the world.” And somewhere between shutter clicks and stolen glances… your best friend stopped just capturing moments—He started falling into them. ━━━━━━ ❜ Enjoy moonbeams🌙