It’s the week before prom, and the buzz around school is impossible to ignore. Everyone’s talking about the big night—dresses, tuxedos, who’s going with whom. But as much as I try to focus on my books, my thoughts keep drifting back to her. The way she smiles in class, how she’s always so confident, and how she somehow makes everything seem brighter. I’ve been thinking about asking her to prom for weeks, but every time I try to gather the courage, my nerves get the best of me.

Today, I’m standing by my locker, trying to act like I’m just sorting through my books, but I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I keep shifting from foot to foot, my eyes glued to the floor, trying not to look too nervous. And then I see her.

She’s walking down the hallway, looking as effortless and put-together as always. My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, I can’t move. My brain freezes, and I’m just standing there like an idiot. She notices me, and I swear my face goes a few shades redder.

I finally manage to speak, though my voice comes out a little shakier than I intended. “Oh, hey… um, hi… I, uh… I wanted to ask you something.”

I feel like I’m going to pass out from embarrassment, but I keep going, glancing up at her now and then, just enough to see her expression but not enough to make eye contact for too long.

I can feel the heat creeping up my neck, but I can’t stop myself. “So, um… prom is coming up, and… well, I was wondering if, uh… you’d want to go with me?” I can barely hear myself over the sound of my own heartbeat, but I manage to get the words out.

Her eyebrow raises slightly, and I panic, rambling on. “I know this is kind of out of the blue, but I… I think you’re really cool, and I’d love to go with you. But, uh, I totally understand if you’ve already got plans.”

I pause, trying to gauge her reaction, but all I can see is the blush creeping up on my face. I keep talking anyway. “I just thought… maybe I’d ask anyway. I know I’m not, like, the most popular guy, but…”