(Sam's POV)
The room went quiet—at least in my head—the second I saw her.
I'd been halfway through a casual joke with Alex near the snack table when someone gasped, and my eyes instinctively followed the sound.
She stepped into the auditorium like the lights were waiting for her.
Blue satin. Silver embroidery. A sheer cape that shimmered when she moved. Her hair was soft around her face, her lips glossed just enough to catch the glow of the chandeliers. And her shoes—heels—delicate and impractical. Dangerous.
Ruby Jane.
The same girl who used to hide behind her hair in the hallway. Who walked like she wanted the floor to forget her footsteps. Who never raised her hand in class, even when she knew the answer.
That girl had vanished.
And this girl? This girl made me forget to breathe.
Until she tripped.
And thank god I was already moving, or she would've face-planted into the punch bowl.
"Whoa there," I said, catching her elbow. Her skin was warm. Her pulse jumped under my fingers.
"You good?"
She nodded, barely. Her eyes were wide and unsure, but she didn't pull away.
Which meant I didn't have to let go.
So I didn't.
"I guess I'll have to stick close," I added, "just in case you trip again."
Still no objection.
Perfect.
Except other people noticed her too.
Which made me deeply, irrationally furious.
A couple of juniors passed by and blatantly turned to look. One even let out a low whistle.
"Damn," I heard. "She's really glowin' up, huh?"
Someone near the snack table asked Becky if Ruby was single. And then, to top it all off, a freshman—maybe four inches shorter than Ruby and wearing a foam knight helmet—approached her with the confidence of a man who had never been publicly humiliated before.
"Hey," he said, eyes wide with admiration. "You look, um… amazing. Like, wow. Are you new? I've never seen you—uh—can I get your number maybe?"
Ruby froze. Her lips parted like she wasn't even sure he was talking to her.
I was sure.
I stepped between them without blinking.
"She's with me."
The boy went pale. "Oh—I didn't know—sorry—"
"Now you do."
I didn't wait for him to slink away before taking Ruby's wrist again and pulling her through the crowd.
She didn't say anything, but her fingers flexed lightly under my grip.
Like maybe she wanted to stay close, too.
Becky and Felix had disappeared for a bit but returned, already arguing in their usual chaotic harmony.
Felix was dressed in some kind of vampire-prince outfit and was dancing with every glitter-covered girl in sight, occasionally spinning with dramatic flair. Becky, meanwhile, was seething by the soda machine.
"Someone should stake him," she muttered when Ruby and I walked up.
"He's just being friendly," Ruby offered gently, though I could see her holding back a laugh.
"He told a girl she looked like 'sunlight in motion.' Who even says that?!"
"You say things like that," I said.
"Not to random girls dressed like fairy mushrooms!"
"You're jealous," Felix called from across the dance floor.
Becky's glare could've burned down the stage lights.
"He's not wrong," I whispered, and Ruby giggled under her breath.
The announcement came not long after—the Ramp Walk Competition was starting.
Everyone had one heart sticker to give. Whoever got the most, won.
I didn't want to participate. I never did. But someone—probably Alex—pushed me forward with a loud, "Go, Queen!"
The chant started. "SAM! SAM! SAM!"
I hated it.
Not because I didn't like attention. But because it was expected. Boring. Like winning was scripted for me before I even took a step.
So I walked.
Slow, confident, expression unreadable.
The stickers began sticking to my costume almost immediately. Hair. Sleeve. Waist. I was a magnet.
And as I reached the end of the ramp, I turned and scanned the crowd.
Ruby stood near the edge of the lights.
She was clapping, but her eyes weren't bright. Something inside her had dimmed. Her shoulders were slightly hunched.
I recognized that look. I'd worn it too many times myself.
I stepped off the ramp and made my way to her.
Then I peeled off the sticker I hadn't given away yet.
Pressed it gently against her neck.
"Why?" she whispered, fingers fluttering up to touch the paper heart.
"I didn't give mine away yet," I murmured. "And I wanted it to mean something."
She didn't say anything.
She didn't have to.
Later, when the official winners were announced—me and Alex again, of course—I barely registered the noise.
I wasn't looking at the trophy.
I was watching Ruby as she swayed a little to the music, hair tumbling over her shoulder, the paper heart still tucked near her collarbone.
She wore it like it was priceless.
Music blasted.
Felix led an impromptu group dance that included a conga line, three people in inflatable dinosaur suits, and someone dressed as a mailbox.
Becky eventually dragged him away by his cape, and I saw them disappear behind the bleachers, arguing and grinning.
I looked down at Ruby.
"You wanna get out of here?"
Her smile was small but certain. "Yeah."
We sat on the steps outside, sipping cheap fruit punch and letting the night air cool our flushed faces.
"You looked like you were having fun," I said, bumping her shoulder.
"I was. Eventually."
"Overwhelming?"
"Kind of. A lot of people. And… attention. That's new."
"You handled it well."
She looked at me then, really looked. "You stepped in a lot."
"You seemed like you needed it."
"I did."
Silence stretched.
Then she said softly, "You didn't have to give me your sticker."
"I wanted to."
She looked away. But I saw the smile.
"I should probably give it back—"
"Nope," I cut her off. "Yours now."
"But—"
"No take backs."
She laughed.
It was quiet. Beautiful.
Real.
[End of Chapter 23]
She didn't win the crown. But she won my heart—and maybe, for once, that was the only prize that mattered.