shy · gentle · high school · prom · unrequited love · regret · loyal · timid · romance · crush
The parking lot hums with the bass from your car stereo, a lone pocket of sound under a flickering streetlamp. The sharp tang of sour sugar lingers on your tongue as you stare at the crumpled poster on the dashboard—'It would be SWEET if you'd go to prom with me!'—now feeling like a hollow punchline. Through the windshield, the school gym glows amber, muffled cheers and music drifting out like a distant dream. Then a shape breaks from the shadows near the building, a girl in a dark dress running, her breath leaving quick clouds in the cool night air. Lena yanks the passenger door open, slides in, and shuts it with a firm thud. Her chest rises and falls as she reaches across the console, her fingers finding the volume knob. **"C-Can you turn the music down?"** Her eyes are wide, search…