## Years Later
The hallways were loud, chaotic, full of people who suddenly cared about memories they'd ignored for years. Matteo leaned against his locker, adjusting the collar of his uniform, watching students rush past with flowers and laughter trailing behind them.
Elena stood near the windows at the end of the corridor, exactly where she always did. Her dark straight hair falling just past her shoulders. She wasn't talking much—she rarely did—but the girl beside her was.
"Are you sure you don't want to do something different with your hair?" her friend asked, tugging lightly at a strand. "Prom is once in a lifetime."
Elena shook her head once.
"That's it?" the girl sighed. "You're impossible."
Matteo watched as Elena tilted her head slightly, listening, his focused was on her, she never tried to blend in. Never tried to stand out either and people noticed her anyway.
"Matteo."
He turned as one of his classmates clapped him on the shoulder. "Big night, huh? Prom, graduation, the whole future thing."
"Yeah," Matteo replied absently, his eyes still drifting back to her.
Elena didn't look his way, she never did unless she needed to. Or unless something felt… off.
They had grown up in the same house, shared almost everything. Somewhere along the way, she'd stopped being the girl who came from the rain and became an important part of his life, someone he couldn't quite name.....yet
"Are you going to prom with anyone?" his friend asked.
Matteo hesitated. "I'll figure it out."
Across the hall, Elena's friend laughed, looping an arm through her elbow. "Come on. At least you can help me pick a dress."
Elena's gaze flickered—briefly—to Matteo. Just a second though, not for long. He straightened instinctively and she looked away just as quickly.
Elena and Gina suddenly approached the two guys. "Matteo.." Gina started.
"You promised to drive Luca and I to the mall to pick up our outfit today."
"Yes! That's true, prom is just two days away, we have to go today. No more excuses Matteo" Luca chirped in.
Matteo sighed, knowing how long he had been postponing it. "Alright fine, Elena, you have to come along also. I can't leave you here alone."
Elena simply nodded as always, she wasn't really the talkative type. Just a girl with few words.
Matteo drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as the mall came into view.
"You're driving too fast," Gina said from the back seat, leaning forward between the headrests.
"I'm driving normally," Matteo replied.
"You say that every time," Luca added, smirking from the passenger seat. "And every time we almost die."
Elena, seated beside Matteo, said nothing. She stared out the window, watching the passing buildings with quiet focus.
Gina rolled her eyes. "Anyway, today is not about you two. It's about me and Luca finding prom outfits that don't make us look ridiculous."
"Speak for yourself," Luca said. "I always look good."
Gina snorted. "You look like a waiter."
Matteo pulled into the parking lot and shut off the engine. "You're welcome, by the way. For the ride."
"Yes, yes, thank you, oh generous driver," Gina said, hopping out. "Now come on. Time is ticking."
Inside, the mall buzzed with weekend noise—music spilling from stores, chatter echoing off glass railings.
Elena walked close to Matteo, as she always did in crowded places. Not holding his hand though, just standing close.
Gina glanced back at them, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"You know," she said, slowing her steps, "it's kind of funny."
"What is?" Luca asked.
"You two." She gestured between Matteo and Elena. "Prom's in two days, and neither of you has a date."
Matteo shrugged. "Didn't really think about it."
Elena frowned slightly. "You'll have someone," she said. "You always do."
He laughed softly. "Since when?"
She stopped walking and looked at him properly. "Since forever. You're… you know." She waved her hand vaguely. "You're handsome."
Luca choked. "Wow. Straight to the point."
Elena blinked. "Was that inappropriate?"
Gina grinned. "No, it was honest."
Matteo felt his ears warm. "I'm not—"
"And you," Gina cut in, turning to Elena, "have never gone with anyone. Ever."
"That's fine," Elena replied calmly.
"Is it?" Gina tilted her head. "Because prom is supposed to be fun. A bit awkward, but ⁰memorable."
Luca snapped his fingers. "I have an idea."
Matteo sighed. "I already don't like the sound of that."
Gina clapped her hands. "Elena and Matteo go together."
"What?" Matteo and Elena said at the same time.
Elena shook her head immediately. "No. There's no way Matteo wouldn't have someone else."
"And there's no way she'd want to go with me," Matteo added quickly. "She'd be bored."
Elena looked at him, brows knitting. "I wouldn't."
Gina smirked. "See? Problem solved."
"It's weird," Matteo said. "We grew up together."
"So?" Gina countered. "That makes it safer, not like you like anyone being around her, you're always so protective. I'm sure that's the reason no one ask her to prom."
Luca shrugged. "I mean, I'd go with my sister if I had one."
Everyone stared at him.
"…Too far?" he asked.
They reached the clothing section with a wide glass entrance and a massive chandelier hanging above the central display—crystal strands catching the light.
Gina dragged Elena toward a rack of dresses. "Come on. Try something also, Matteo will cover the bills."
Matteo and Luca lingered near the entrance.
"You okay?" Luca asked quietly.
Matteo nodded. "Yeah. Just… not used to thinking about her like that Would that make sense? Taking her to prom."
"I mean, not like you two are related," Luca said approaching a black suit that caught his attention. "Because if you were, I'd be concerned."
Matteo chuckled, just then, Elena's head snapped up. Her eyes widened.
"Matteo—!"
He barely had time to register her voice before she was suddenly there— her arms around him, yanking him back with a force that knocked the breath from his lungs.
They hit the floor hard, a deafening crash followed. Glass exploded above them. The chandelier came down in a violent shower, as the crystal shattered across the tiles where Matteo had been standing seconds earlier.
Luca and Gina screamed, Matteo just lay there stunned, Elena half on top of him, her arms still locked around his shoulders.
The ringing in his ears faded slowly.
"Elena…" he breathed. "are you okay?"
She was shaking, not from fear—from restraint.
"Oh, my god! Are you both ok?" Gina asked concerned, not moving an inch.
"I—" She stopped herself and pulled back. "You were in the wrong place."
Luca stared at the wreckage, his face pale. "Dude… if she hadn't—"
Gina rushed over, eyes wide. "Elena, how did you even—?"
Elena stood up quickly, offering Matteo her hand. "Instinct," she said, too fast. "I just reacted."
Security swarmed the area.
Matteo took her hand, letting her pull him up, still dazed. He never knew how she knew bad things wanted to happen, she would just swing into action surprising him.
He looked at the shattered chandelier, then at her.