Prom.
That one word made my stomach do backflips every time someone said it. Amethyst just happened yesterday and now... Prom will be happening just in two weeks from now...
It was everywhere. Posters on the hallway walls. Announcements during homeroom. Even the school lunch menu had changed to "prom-themed" food. (Whatever that meant—heart-shaped chicken nuggets are still just chicken nuggets.)
But mostly, it was the thing I'd been thinking about for weeks. Because I had a plan.
A big plan.
I was going to tell Amethyst how I felt. For real this time.
No hiding behind birthday balloons or janitor closets. Just me, a corsage, and maybe—hopefully—a slow song where we danced and I said something like, "Hey, I like you. A lot."
Not the smoothest plan, but hey, I was working with what I had.
---
Clarisse was the first person I told.
"Prom confession?" she said, practically choking on her soda in the cafeteria. "That's bold. That's, like a high school love story that I am watching right now."
"I don't want to be dramatic about it," I said, sipping my chocolate milk and trying to sound normal.
"Oh, buddy. It's already dramatic. You need a corsage, a good suit, and maybe backup tissues."
I groaned. "Tissues? Come on."
"For you. In case you cry."
"I'm not gonna cry!"
She patted my head like I was a small dog. "Sure, champ. We'll see."
---
The week before prom was chaos. People were pairing up, freaking out, getting excited, or pretending not to care when they clearly did. Clarisse and I stayed mostly chill.
Until Friday.
That's when something weird happened.
Clarisse walked into homeroom with her mouth wide open like she just saw a unicorn.
"Guess what?" she whispered, throwing her bag down next to me.
"You finally found out what mystery meat is made of?"
"Worse. Better. I don't even know. Ryan Mateo asked me to prom!"
I blinked. "Wait—Ryan Mateo? Captain of the basketball team Ryan?"
"Yes! That Ryan! He walked up like it was nothing and said, 'Hey Clarisse, wanna go to prom with me?' Like some kind of teen movie moment! And I blacked out. I think I said yes?"
I stared at her. "You think?"
She waved her hands. "I panicked, okay?! He's too shiny. Like—his teeth sparkle when he smiles."
"Well… do you want to go with him?"
Clarisse looked down at her tray. "I don't know. I mean, he's cool. And tall. And people kept saying we'd look cute together. But…"
"But?"
She looked at me sideways. "He doesn't know that I make up songs about my cat. You know?"
"Fair," I said. "That's a high bar."
She laughed. "Right?"
---
Meanwhile, I was finalizing my plan.
Corsage? Ordered. (Purple, of course.)
Suit? Borrowed from my cousin. Slightly too big, but it worked.
Speech? Practiced in the mirror, like, twenty times. (Okay, thirty.)
I was ready.
---
Prom night came fast.
The gym looked like someone dumped a thousand dollars in sparkles and said, "Go wild." Fairy lights hung from the ceiling. There were fake trees in the corners. A disco ball slowly spun above the dance floor like it was watching all our high school hopes and dreams.
Clarisse walked in first, arm linked with Ryan's. She looked amazing, in this shimmery blue dress that made her look like a galaxy. Ryan looked like… well, a sports drink ad. Shiny and tall.
"You good?" she mouthed at me from across the room.
I gave a tiny thumbs-up and wiped my sweaty palms on my pants.
Then Amethyst walked in.
And I forgot how to breathe.
She wore a dress the color of twilight. Her hair was curled softly, with these little sparkly clips like tiny stars. She looked like the night sky came to life.
My heart punched me in the chest.
She came in with a couple friends but no date, thank the universe. I held the corsage box tighter and started walking toward her.
Then Ryan walked up beside her.
And handed her a corsage.
My corsage.
I froze.
What.
WHAT.
---
Clarisse ran up to me, almost tripping in her heels.
"WHAT JUST HAPPENED," I whispered in panic.
"I—I DON'T KNOW," she said, hands flailing. "I left it in Ryan's car for safe keeping. You know, so you wouldn't squish it in your pocket!"
"And he just… gave it to her?!"
"He probably thought it was his for her!"
We both stared at Amethyst, who was now smiling down at the corsage on her wrist.
"Okay," Clarisse said, grabbing my arms. "Breathe. This is fine. We can fix this."
"She thinks it's from *him*," I said. "How do I tell her without sounding like some jealous weirdo?"
"Okay. First—stop sweating so much. You're dripping emotion."
I gave her a look.
She sighed. "Alright, Plan B. We wait for the slow dance. Then you cut in. Then you say something. Like, 'That corsage you're wearing? Was actually meant for you… from me.' Super dramatic. She'll swoon. Possibly faint."
"You think that'll work?"
"No. But it sounds cool."
---
The night went on. I watched from the sidelines as Amethyst danced, laughed, and spun around with her friends—and Ryan. Mostly Ryan.
Clarisse kept giving me pep talks.
"You're doing great."
"I'm literally just standing here."
"Exactly. Great posture. Love that for you."
Finally, the DJ announced the slow song.
"Alright, folks. Grab someone special. Time to slow it down."
I started walking toward her, heart pounding like a marching band on energy drinks.
But Ryan got there first.
He held out his hand.
Amethyst hesitated.
Then took it.
I stopped walking.
Clarisse appeared beside me, holding a cupcake. "Want one?"
"I'm good."
She stared at me, then stuffed the cupcake in her mouth. "Okay well, I *am* sad-eating for you."
"Appreciated."
We stood there, watching.
Amethyst and Ryan danced slowly, her hand on his shoulder, their heads kind of close. But not too close.
Then I saw something.
She looked past him.
At me.
Just for a second.
Not long. But enough.
Clarisse nudged me. "She's not looking at *him*, you know."
"I don't know what she's looking at."
"Maybe you. Maybe the guy who planned her surprise party. Made her a playlist. Got her a corsage and didn't even get the credit."
I sighed. "Or maybe she just likes tall guys with sparkly teeth."
"Hey," Clarisse said, bumping my arm. "You're the one who makes her laugh when no one else notices she's having a bad day."
I looked at her. "You're weirdly good at this pep talk thing."
She shrugged. "I'm rooting for you, dummy."
---
The song ended. Ryan and Amethyst split apart. She said something and walked away from him—heading toward the snack table.
Clarisse looked at me. "This is your shot."
I nodded. Stepped forward.
Then tripped over the DJ's cord and almost crashed into the punch table.
Clarisse covered her face and whispered, "Oh no. My boy's down."
"I'm fine!" I hissed, regaining balance. "Totally fine!"
Amethyst turned at the sound. Saw me. Smiled.
And waited.
Just waited.
Not walking away.
Not saying anything.
Just giving me the space to come closer.
So I did.
I walked up to her, heart racing again.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey," she said back.
"That corsage," I started, pointing awkwardly.
"Oh," she said, looking down at it. "Yeah. Ryan gave it to me. Kind of a surprise."
I nodded. "Funny thing… it was actually meant for you. From someone else."
Her eyes met mine.
Then softened.
"I thought maybe," she whispered.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I wasn't sure if it mattered."
"It does," she said.
We stood there, in the middle of all the music and glitter and leftover cupcakes, just looking at each other.
She reached out and touched the flower lightly. "It's really pretty."
"You're really pretty," I blurted.
Her eyebrows shot up.
I froze. "I mean—not like in a weird way—well, I guess that was weird—sorry—"
She laughed.
And that laugh made everything feel okay again.
"Thanks, Nathan," she said, still smiling. "Really."
And just like that, the moment wasn't perfect.
But it was something.
Almost.
Maybe next time… I'd get all the way there.
But for now, this was enough.
Clarisse waved from across the room, holding another cupcake and giving me two big thumbs-up like a proud, chaotic sister.
I gave her a little nod back.
Almost.
Almost was better than nothing.
And maybe… almost was a start.