Robbie Shapiro had always been the awkward one, the guy who blurred into the background while the stars of Hollywood Arts shone brightly. He never minded it. In truth, performing had never been his dream—not really. He enjoyed making people laugh, sure, but he wasn't the type to crave the spotlight. And even if he had been, his mother would never have let him seriously pursue a life on stage. His time at HA was, in her words, the way to get it all out of his system.

But that was okay. Not everyone who went to a performing arts high school had to dedicate their entire existence to the arts. Robbie had always secretly loved tech. During his downtime, while his classmates were rehearsing lines or perfecting choreography, he'd been tinkering with computers, building basic programs, and diving into the fascinating world of coding.

After graduation, Robbie's path diverged sharply from his friends. While they chased their dreams in music, acting, and writing, Robbie chose a more conventional route. He enrolled at a university, studied computer science, and quickly found his place in the world of academia. Now, years later, he taught computer science at a college in Colorado, shaping young minds and sharing his passion for technology. It wasn't glamorous, but it was fulfilling.

His life in Colorado was everything he'd ever wanted. He'd met his wife, a fellow tech enthusiast, at a conference five years ago. She was brilliant, funny, and grounded in a way that complemented Robbie's own personality. Together, they'd built a happy, simple life. Their home was modest but cozy, filled with laughter, love, and the occasional chaos courtesy of their one-year-old son, Noah.

Robbie loved being a dad. There was something profoundly satisfying about watching his son's eyes light up with curiosity, whether it was over the brightly coloured blocks in his playpen or the light-up keyboard Robbie had given him as a birthday present. His evenings were spent with his family, and his weekends were often filled with long walks, homemade pancakes, and bedtime stories. He could be doing more professionally—some of his former classmates from university had gone on to Silicon Valley or launched startups—but Robbie didn't feel the need. He had everything that mattered.

So when the invitation to the Hollywood Arts reunion came, Robbie's decision was an easy one. It wasn't every day that you got to reconnect with the people who had been such a huge part of your formative years. He was curious, too, about what everyone had been up to. He'd followed Tori's career from a distance, occasionally catching her on talk shows or hearing one of her songs on the radio. Cat's bubbly voice and laughter still echoed in his memory, and Jade's cutting wit was impossible to forget. Beck, Andre, the whole gang—he wondered if they'd changed as much as he had.

"What do you think?" he asked his wife one evening, holding the invitation in his hand. They were sitting on the couch, Noah snoozing in her arms.

"I think it sounds fun," she said, smiling. "You should go. It's not every day you get to revisit your high school days."

"It'll be weird," Robbie admitted, leaning back. "I mean, I'm probably the only one who didn't stick with performing arts."

"That's not true," she said gently. "You've got your own kind of success. Besides, they're your friends. They'll be happy to see you, no matter what you're doing."

That reassurance was all Robbie needed. He checked their finances, made sure they had enough for a plane ticket, and booked his flight. It felt strange to think about going back to Los Angeles, to the place where it all began. Colorado had become his home, and the thought of leaving it, even temporarily, gave him a pang of homesickness. But this was important. These people had been his family once, and he wanted to see them again.

As he packed his suitcase, Robbie's mind wandered to what the reunion might be like. He pictured the familiar faces, the stories they'd share, the laughter. He wondered if Tori would still have that determined spark in her eyes, or if Jade's sarcasm had softened over the years.

"You're thinking about it already, aren't you?" his wife teased, watching him from the doorway.

He laughed, zipping up his bag. "Guilty as charged."

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. "Have fun. And take lots of pictures. I want to hear all about it when you get back."

Robbie kissed her, then bent down to kiss Noah's forehead as he slept in his crib. "I will," he promised.