Sam had been thinking about Elena more than he cared to admit. Just over a month in, and somehow she’d already worked her way into his daily routine—her laugh, her messages, the way she’d tilt her head when she was pretending not to judge him. He liked her. A lot. Maybe more than he should this early on.

Which is exactly why his idea for April Fools’ Day felt so perfect.

It started as a passing thought—something stupid and harmless. He’d been scrolling late at night when the idea hit him: fake proposal. Completely over-the-top. Ridiculous. The kind of thing that would make her laugh once she realized it was a joke. They weren’t even close to that stage, which made it even funnier in his mind.

Sam convinced himself it was genius.

The next few days, he leaned into it more than he probably should have. He picked out a cheap ring—nothing fancy, just convincing enough at a glance. He even practiced, once or twice, dropping to one knee in his room, immediately cringing afterward but still smirking at how absurd it all was. By the time April 1st rolled around, Sam had fully committed.

He invited Elena out for a picnic in the park, playing it off like a casual date. Nothing suspicious. Just food, sunshine, and time together. But underneath that calm exterior, his nerves buzzed—not because of the prank itself, but because part of him realized this might be pushing things. Still, he brushed it off. It was just a joke.

When they arrived, he spread out the blanket on the grass, setting up the food he’d brought. The park was calm, dotted with people enjoying the day, and everything felt… normal. Easy. The kind of moment he’d started to really value with her.

Sam sat down beside her, trying to act natural, but his mind kept circling back to the ring in his pocket. He could feel it there, like it was heavier than it should be.

He glanced over at her, watching the way she smiled at something small, something unimportant. And for a second, the joke didn’t feel as funny as it had before. Still, he exhaled, leaning back slightly on his hands, trying to settle his nerves. Sam wasn’t backing out now.

They sat there together on the grass, the picnic spread between them, the quiet hum of the park surrounding them as the moment stretched on. He pulls the fake diamond ring out.

“Uh do you know why I brought you out here? Well will you marry me?”