The days turned warmer, and spring crept into Lincoln and Ridgeway like a slow exhale after a long breath. The sting of gossip dulled, and while Athena still caught the occasional side-eye in the hallways, people had mostly moved on.
She wasn't the cheer captain anymore.
But she was something else. Something freer. Realer.
And she had Mason.
---
Prom season was in full swing.
Posters cluttered every wall, dresses filled Instagram feeds, and boys scrambled to plan creative promposals. Athena wasn't sure what she was expecting—she didn't think she'd even go this year.
But then…
Mason showed up outside her third-period class one Friday with a huge bouquet of blue hydrangeas—her favorite. He held a handmade sign in Ridgeway red and gold that read:
"Rivals on the field. But at prom, will you be my queen?"
Students crowded the hall, phones out, a few even cheering.
Athena's eyes filled with tears, her laughter breaking through the silence as she nodded.
"Yes, you dork," she said, pulling him into a hug.
The hallway exploded in applause.
---
Later that day, Lia cornered Athena at her locker.
"I know we haven't been close lately," Lia said, tugging her braid, "but I saw what Mason did and… it was kind of perfect."
Athena blinked. "Are you saying that as a friend or as a spy for Brooke?"
Lia smirked. "Maybe both. But mostly as a girl who can admit when she was wrong. He clearly loves you."
Athena's heart skipped.
Lia continued, "Brooke's trying to get herself a date with Mason's backup quarterback. She's over it."
"Of course she is," Athena muttered. "She was never in it for the right reasons anyway."
"Unlike you," Lia said softly. "You really love him, don't you?"
Athena smiled. "Yeah. I do."
---
Saturday arrived, and with it came prom night.
Athena stood in front of the mirror in her room, dressed in a soft champagne gown that shimmered in the light. Her hair was curled delicately, pinned half up with pearl clips. Her mom peeked in the doorway, eyes wet.
"You look like magic," she whispered.
Athena took a breath. "Thanks, Mom. For everything."
Then Mason arrived.
Dressed in a classic black tux with a Ridgeway-red tie, he stood frozen when Athena came down the stairs.
"You're… you're unreal," he breathed.
"You clean up pretty well yourself," she teased.
They drove together—carefully, quietly, hands entwined across the console. They didn't talk much on the way, just smiled, hearts hammering with anticipation.
---
Prom was held in a decorated gym, lit with fairy lights and hung with silver and gold streamers. Despite being from different schools, no one said a word when they walked in.
In fact, they stole the spotlight.
People whispered, stared, even smiled.
Athena and Mason danced like no one was watching—foreheads touching, laughter spilling out between songs. For one night, there were no rivals. No rumors. Just music, warmth, and love.
As the night began to wind down, Mason led her out to the balcony just outside the gym.
"I need to tell you something," he said, voice rough with emotion.
Athena tilted her head. "What is it?"
"I got accepted. Full ride. USC." He grinned.
Her heart leapt. "Mason, that's amazing!"
He hesitated. "But I turned it down."
"What?" Her smile faltered. "Why would you—"
"Because I also got into Columbia. So did you. And I'm not doing this without you, Athena. We've come too far."
She stared at him, stunned.
"You picked Columbia... for me?"
He took her hands. "No. I picked it for us."
Tears slipped down her cheeks as she whispered, "I love you."
He kissed her like he meant it. Like the world had melted away.
Because for the first time in a long time, it had.