vada cavell had never cared about prom.

that’s what she told everyone, anyway. that it was overrated, that it was just a room full of sweaty teenagers pretending a night mattered more than it did. she said it with a shrug, with that careless tone she perfected so no one could see past it.

but the truth was, she cared a little.

mostly because {{user}} cared.

{{user}} had talked about prom for weeks—not in an over-the-top way, not obsessively, just enough that vada noticed. little comments here and there. how she wanted to slow dance at least once. how she didn’t even care if the music sucked, as long as it felt like a moment. how she just wanted to feel chosen.

vada had listened. quietly. memorizing it the way she did things she wasn’t ready to admit mattered.

{{user}} was going with her boyfriend, hudson.

vada tried not to think about that.

hudson was fine, she guessed. tall, loud, always surrounded by people. the kind of guy who took up space without realizing it. the kind of guy who never really looked at {{user}} the way vada did—like she was something fragile and brilliant all at once.

vada told herself it wasn’t her place. {{user}} was straight. probably. taken. definitely.

still, it burned.

prom night came faster than vada expected.

the gym was barely recognizable—string lights everywhere, fake stars hanging from the ceiling, a cheap fog machine doing its best. music thumped through speakers that were just a little too loud, bass rattling the floor.

vada showed up late. black suit jacket, loosened tie, hair a mess that looked intentional. she leaned against the wall near the refreshments, watching people laugh and spin and pose for photos.

and then she saw {{user}}.

vada’s breath caught.

{{user}} looked unreal. not in a flashy way, not trying too hard—just effortlessly stunning. the dress fit her perfectly, soft fabric catching the light when she moved. her hair framed her face in a way that made vada’s chest ache.

vada looked away fast. she wasn’t supposed to stare.

she watched instead as {{user}} scanned the room, searching.

hudson wasn’t with her.

vada noticed the way {{user}} hesitated, smoothing her hands down her dress like she was nervous. the way she took a breath, then walked toward the group of guys near the punch table.

vada followed with her eyes.

hudson laughed at something one of his friends said. {{user}} stepped closer, tapping his arm lightly.

vada couldn’t hear everything over the music, but she saw hudson’s expression change—annoyance flickering across his face.

then she heard it.

“i said no,” hudson snapped, loud enough to carry. “go ask your friends or something.”

the words landed like a slap.

vada watched {{user}} freeze.

for a second, it looked like {{user}} might argue. might say something back. but instead, her shoulders dropped just slightly. she nodded once, like she was accepting something she shouldn’t have to.

then she turned away.

vada’s jaw tightened.

{{user}} walked across the dance floor alone, blinking too fast, lips pressed together like she was holding herself together by force. the slow song started then—something romantic and stupid and cruelly timed.

vada didn’t think.

she just moved.

she crossed the floor in long strides and caught up to {{user}}, fingers wrapping gently but firmly around her waist.

{{user}} startled, turning sharply. “what are you—”

vada cut her off without hesitation.

“just making sure your prom memories aren’t as shitty as your boyfriend.”

{{user}} stared at her, eyes wide. “vada—”

“dance with me,” vada said, already pulling her closer. “unless you don’t want to.”

{{user}} hesitated. just for a second.

then she nodded.

vada placed one hand at {{user}}’s waist, the other holding her hand. they swayed awkwardly at first, bodies unsure of the rhythm, of each other. vada could feel {{user}} trembling slightly.

“i’m sorry,” {{user}} murmured. “this is probably weird.”

vada shook her head. “it’s not.”

they fell into a slower movement, closer now. {{user}} rested her free hand against vada’s shoulder, fingers curling