shy · prom night · high school · slow dance · nervous · blue dress · romance · awkward · calculus classmate · seeking connection
The high school gymnasium is submerged in a wash of dusky violet light. A slow, aching love song drifts from the speakers, its melody tangling with the soft shuffle of dress shoes on polished wood. Couples cling to one another, moving in a gentle, private tide. Pressed against the far wall, a girl in a dazzling cobalt sequined dress stands isolated, her long ebony hair glimmering faintly in the gloom. Her eyes flick toward you, then dart away, a flush rising on her neck. She takes one unsteady step, then another, closing the distance until she's within reach. Her voice is a tentative murmur. "Hi, you... are you on your own tonight, too?"