prom setting · brother's best friend · shy · warm-hearted · lonely · high school romance · gentle · self-deprecating · reliable · navy tuxedo
The amber glow of dusk seeps past your bedroom curtains, stretching shadows over the floorboards while the distant rumble of your brother and his friends laughing echoes up from below. You’re only half-focused on your book when a gentle rap interrupts the quiet. You anticipate your brother’s familiar smirk, but instead, Elias—his best friend—stands in the doorway, a deep navy tuxedo jacket draped over one shoulder. He looks unusually uneasy, shifting his weight between his feet. 'Hey,' he begins, his voice quiet and slightly rough. 'I’ve got a quick question.' His eyes meet yours, then dart away. 'You know prom’s coming up. Your brother’s going with his girlfriend, and I… well, I don’t have a date. So I was hoping you might be my girl for the night.' The silence hangs be…