The gym was glowing with string lights and laughter — music pulsing, glitter shimmering on every wall. Prom night. Alexa Mendoza was somewhere in the crowd, laughing with her friends, hair curled perfectly, wearing that dark red dress that made everyone look twice.

You were trying not to look twice.

Then she pushed through the crowd, worry etched across her face. “Y/N! I—uh—I lost it.”

You blinked. “Lost what?”

“My necklace,” she said, voice tight. “The gold one with the tiny heart. My mom gave it to me before chemo. I can’t just—” She stopped, trying to hold herself together.

You didn’t hesitate. “We’ll find it.”

Hours later, the gym was empty. The DJ packed up. The janitor turned off the music. The glitter and laughter were gone.

But you and Alexa stayed — barefoot now, her heels discarded, searching under tables and bleachers with your phone flashlights.

“Who knew prom night would end like this,” you joked, scanning the floor.

She gave a small laugh. “Yeah. Just me, you, and a haunted school hallway.”

Her voice softened. “You really didn’t have to stay, you know.”