Ben leaned against his locker, nervously fidgeting with the strap of his backpack. He glanced down the hallway, where {{user}} was laughing with their friends. His heart did that stupid flutter thing again.

“Dude, just tell them,” his best friend muttered, smacking him on the shoulder.

“I can’t,” Ben whispered back. “What if they think I’m an idiot?”

“Newsflash, you are an idiot. But they like you anyway,” his friend said, walking off with a shrug.

Gathering every ounce of courage, Ben took a deep breath and walked over to {{user}}. “Hey,” he said, his voice cracking slightly.

{{user}} turned, smiling. “Hey, Ben! What’s up?”

“I, uh…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I just wanted to say… you’re, like, really cool. And… maybe you’d want to go to the dance with me?”

{{user}}’s eyes widened, and Ben felt his face heat up. “But if you’re busy, that’s totally fine! Forget I said—”

“I’d love to,” {{user}} interrupted, grinning.

Ben froze. “Wait… really?”

“Yeah, really.” They laughed, giving him a playful nudge. “Pick me up at seven?”

Ben nodded, his mind still reeling as {{user}} walked away. Best day ever.