Chasing Fate

Prologue

 While most of the town of Crestwood woke up to another ordinary day, it wasn't for Jaylee Noble, it was anything but ordinary. With her brunette hair with blonde highlights falling over her shoulders and down her back and her piercing green eyes full of confidence, she navigated the halls of Crestwood Acadamy with ease, like always. But behind that confident face lay a crazy past, one marked by tragedy and upheaval.

Growing up in a small family, Jaylee had always been the oldest sibling, shouldering the weight of responsibility from a young age. Her mother's unknown death when she was just ten years old had left a void in her life that she struggled to fill. She was a mama's girl and it truly hurt her beyond repair. She longed for the true reason her mom died, but it would always remain a mystery to her. She never saw her father since he was always on work trips. It didn't affect her much, though. She never really had a close relationship with him. With a younger brother, Marc, who was really athletic, played football, and ran track, and a sister, Sami, who had incredible talent in the theater world, Jaylee often found herself lost in the shuffle. She was the cheer captain and the head catcher for the softball team. She would always keep herself busy to stay happy.

It wasn't until her return to Crestwood Academy in seventh grade that Jaylee's world was turned upside down once again, but this time for the better. After years of voluntarily homeschooling due to her mother's passing, she found herself thrust back into the familiar halls of her old school, surrounded by faces she barely recognized. Among them was Dominic Lucini, a formerly quiet boy with a sharp wit and a taste for mischief and being a menace.

Their paths had first crossed in the time of elementary when her family first moved to Crestwood. Back when life was simple and friendships were so easy to come across. But as time went on, and her mom died, Jaylee could no longer handle school since her mom was her biggest support in school. She then spent those couple years away from the real world and into the world of homeschooling to try and focus on herself

It wasn't until her return in seventh grade that everything changed, and the once sweet friendship between Jaylee and Dominic took a sharp turn. Dominic didn't even really remember Jaylee and only knew her since they had mutual friends. The "friendship" now simmered with tension, a lowkey feeling of unspoken emotions bubbling beneath the surface. Their interactions became a mess of push and pull of friendship that would come and go, until freshman year when any friendship they had was pretty much "gone". But they still had a pull to each other, but they didn't ever talk anymore.

But as the final year of high school went by, the overwhelming heaviness of graduation hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over their tumultuous relationship. For Jaylee, the thought of parting ways was both a relief and a torment, a chance to escape the confines of Crestwood Academy, but was a sad reminder of all she stoo to lose. The memories that would follow her throughout her life

Throughout the chaos of senior year, Jaylee and Dominic found themselves at odds more often than not. Whether it was a dead stares at each other or a snarky remark in the hallways, their interactions were almost always with tension, a constant game that neither seemed willing to slow down and reconcile. But through all of the tension, there were moments of unexpected connection, quick glances and stolen smiles that spoke volumes without even saying a word. It was in those stolen moments that Jaylee and Dominic found slight comfort, a brief break from the crazy lifes they had.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, the gloom of graduation loomed over everyone. Most people were happy, while others were sad. With each passing day, Jaylee found herself coming to terms with the fact that she would no longer have her crazy social life and that she would no longer be able to mess with her favorite person probably forever.

But as the final days of senior year dwindled down to a precious few, Jaylee was facing a choice – to cling to the safety of familiarity and never move on, or to embrace the uncertainty of the unknown. And as they stood on the precipice of a new beginning, she knew that whatever path she was to choose, her life would never be the same again.

Graduation day dawned bright and clear, a bittersweet reminder of all that had been and all that was yet to come. As she put on her cap and gown, she and her best friend, Lindsey prepared to take their final steps as high school seniors, the weight of the moment hung heavy in the air.

"Ready Jaylee?" said Lindsey, squeezing Jaylees hand. For Jaylee, it was a day filled with mixed emotions – relief at finally escaping the confines of Crestwood High, but also a sense of sadness at leaving behind the familiar comforts of what she called home. As she stood amidst her classmates, listening to the graduation song of "Pomp and Circumstance" fill the air, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Dominic, who stood tall a few rows ahead of her.

But as the final notes of the song faded into the distance and the last diplomas were handed out, Jaylee found herself facing a harsh reality – the inevitability of the parting between her and everyone else she ever knew. With hugs and well wishes exchanged between everyone,it got to the point to where Jaylee got to Dominic. She rolled her eyes and flipped him off while smirking, knowing that it wouldn't be long before their paths crossed once again.

As Jaylee watched Dominic disappear into the crowd, a sense of sadness washed over her, mingled with a fierce determination to chase after whatever the future held. For in that moment, she knew that no matter where life took her, she would always carry a piece of Dominic with her – a reminder of the tumultuous journey they had shared and the forbidden love that had always lingered just beneath the surface.

And as she walked away from Crestwood Acadamy as a student for the last time, Jaylee couldn't help but wonder what adventures lay ahead, and whether fate would once again bring her face to face with the one person who had ever truly understood her.