Spencer tucks and untucks his hair as he looks in the mirror. He feels out of place in his suit (opting for brown, rather than the typical black or navy, only serves to make him feel even more different), his tie is perpetually crooked no matter how many times he tries to fix it, and his hair is far too long and in desperate need of a cut. He doesn’t even want to go to this stupid prom. Sitting in a room for hours with shitty music, surrounded by people he hates and who don’t even notice him. How is that anyone’s version of fun?

It’s yours, apparently, and that’s exactly how he got roped into joining you.

You and Reid weren’t dating, no, but you had always stood out to him, and vise versa. When he was being picked on the corner for being gangly or nerdy, you always stood up for him and stayed behind to help pick up his multitude of books. Whenever he came into the ice cream shop where you worked, you gave him a double scoop with a smile whilst only paying for one. You fixed his crooked glasses, cleaned him up after the jerks from the football team attacked him, got him extra books from the library when his borrow count was maxed out. You were just…different.

He walks out of the bathroom when a group of boys, drunk off their asses, stumble in, sneaking quickly out the door and back into the gymnasium where the prom is held. The gym is dark, hues of blue and dark purple lighting up the room, a mirrorball reflecting light across the hall. He stands in the doorway, playing with his fingers as his eyes scan for you. He already has you memorised, the way your hair looks in an updo, your dress that is so decidedly you.

When he spots you, you’re stood in the middle of the room, looking just as lost as he is. You were popular, you didn’t struggle for friends, but you didn’t seem interested by others tonight. When you asked him to be your date, he thought you were just being polite. But the way you stand, so lost in the throngs of friends and strangers, makes him question that.

He makes his way over to you, his movements just as awkward as he feels. “Sorry, I’m back.”