Prom was all anyone talked about.
Every hallway.
Every classroom.
Every group chat.
Prom.
Prom.
Prom.
Prom.
Andrea was already sick of hearing the word.
But that didn't stop the knot forming in her stomach every time someone mentioned it.
Because deep down—
She was terrified.
Not of prom itself.
Not of dancing.
Not of dresses.
She was terrified of being the girl nobody asked.
Again.
The girl people forgot.
The girl people laughed about.
The girl who watched everyone else get chosen.
While she sat alone.
Andrea stared out the classroom window while students around her excitedly discussed dates.
"I already have mine."
"We're matching outfits."
"My boyfriend is picking me up."
Andrea looked down at her notebook.
Suddenly it was hard to breathe.
Lunch break.
Teresa immediately knew something was wrong.
She always did.
"You have your thinking face."
Andrea groaned.
"What does that even mean?"
"It means you're spiraling."
Diana nodded.
"Definitely spiraling."
Andrea dropped her head onto the table.
"Prom is stupid."
Teresa gasped dramatically.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You don't think anyone's going to ask you."
Andrea stayed silent.
Which was answer enough.
Teresa looked horrified.
"Andrea."
Diana looked equally shocked.
"Have you looked in a mirror recently?"
Andrea frowned.
"That's not the point."
Teresa pointed aggressively.
"People literally fight over talking to you."
"No they don't."
Teresa and Diana exchanged a look.
Then started laughing.
Andrea hated when they did that.
School ended slowly.
Andrea was walking toward the front entrance when she heard someone call her name.
"Andrea."
She froze.
Immediately.
Because she knew that voice.
Matthew.
Her heart did the stupid thing again.
That stupid little jump it still did around him.
Even after everything.
Andrea turned around.
Matthew stood a few feet away.
Hands shoved into his pockets.
Looking nervous.
Actually nervous.
Which was unusual.
Andrea frowned.
"What?"
Matthew looked like he was trying to figure out how to say something.
Then finally—
"Can we talk?"
Andrea sighed.
"Depends."
Matthew almost smiled.
"Fair."
For a moment neither spoke.
Students continued walking around them.
Laughing.
Talking.
Living their lives.
Then Matthew finally took a breath.
"I wanted to ask you something."
Andrea immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
Matthew looked directly at her.
And said:
"Would you go to prom with me?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Andrea stared.
Blinking.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Surely she heard that wrong.
"What?"
Matthew laughed nervously.
The most nervous she'd ever seen him.
"I said—"
"I heard what you said."
Matthew stopped.
Andrea's heart was pounding.
Hard.
Painfully hard.
Because for years—
Years—
She dreamed about hearing those words.
And now?
Now they were actually happening.
And she had no idea what to do.
Andrea looked away first.
Because looking at him felt dangerous.
"Why?"
Matthew blinked.
"What?"
"Why now?"
The question came out sharper than intended.
But she needed to know.
Matthew hesitated.
Not because he didn't have an answer.
Because he had too many.
"I don't know."
Andrea laughed immediately.
"That's a terrible answer."
Matthew nodded.
"I know."
Silence.
Then quieter—
"I just know I want to go with you."
Andrea's chest tightened.
Matthew stepped closer.
Carefully.
"I know I messed up."
Andrea looked down.
"I know I noticed too late."
That one hurt.
Because it was true.
Matthew exhaled slowly.
"But I don't want to keep making the same mistake."
Andrea's heartbeat got even worse.
Because a year ago—
She would've said yes before he finished speaking.
Without hesitation.
Without thought.
Without breathing.
But now?
Now there was Samuel.
And that complicated everything.
As if the universe wasn't cruel enough—
A familiar voice suddenly appeared behind them.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Andrea froze.
Matthew froze.
Samuel.
Of course.
Of course it was Samuel.
The universe hated her.
Samuel approached slowly.
Then noticed Matthew's expression.
Andrea's expression.
The tension.
And immediately understood.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"What happened?"
Nobody answered.
That was answer enough.
Samuel looked between them.
Then finally at Andrea.
"What happened?"
Andrea opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Then quietly said:
"Matthew asked me to prom."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Samuel's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Andrea noticed.
Of course she noticed.
Matthew noticed too.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The air suddenly felt too small.
Too crowded.
Too complicated.
For a second—
Andrea realized something terrifying.
For the first time in her life—
She wasn't scared nobody would choose her.
She was scared she would have to choose.
And somehow—
That felt even worse.