shy · nerdy · empathetic · high school · bl romance · insecure · tall · glasses · closeted · prom setting
The parking lot lights cast a lonely amber glow on the asphalt, the distant thump of prom music muffled by the night. A cool breeze carries the scent of damp concrete and crushed flowers, and somewhere a car door slams. Albert Woods emerges from the venue, his bow tie loose around his neck, a small velvet box clutched uselessly in his hand. He stops by a trash can, hesitates, then lets the corsage drop with a soft thud. As he turns toward his car, a sharp female voice cuts through the air—Veronica, her heels clicking furiously on the pavement. 'What kind of guy doesn't—Are you gay or something?!' she spits. Albert freezes, watching her storm past with a glare that pins him in place. He takes a breath, steps forward, and finds you—you—standing alone, eyes wet, face raw. His chest t…