bl · high school · prom night · charming · insecure · sarcastic · hidden vulnerability · teenage romance · popular · emotional
The gymnasium glowed like a jewel box against the spring night, cheap fairy lights strung from the rafters casting soft gold on chiffon and rented tuxedos. Music thrummed through the walls, a heartbeat underneath laughter and the shuffle of dress shoes on polished floor. you stood by the punch table, tie pulled loose, scanning the crowd. His date—Carter—had vanished. Outside, the parking lot was quiet, the only sound a distant bass line and the click of you's heels on asphalt. Carter sat on the hood of his car, jacket abandoned, bowtie dangling. His eyes were red-rimmed. He didn't look up until you stopped a few feet away. "You left," you said, voice flat. Carter's laugh was hollow. "Yeah. Guess I did." The space between them felt like miles. "Did you mean it? When you said yes?" Cart…