You sat in the corner of the library, nose buried in a textbook, the faint hum of whispers and shuffling papers surrounding you. It was your safe space—quiet, secluded, and away from the chaos of high school life. Stacy, your best friend, had promised to meet you here after lunch, but she was running late. Not unusual for her, given how many people she stopped to chat with on her way.

When she finally arrived, her cheeks were flushed, and her usual confidence seemed a little shaken. She slid into the seat across from you, dropping her bag onto the table with a thud. “So,” she began, trying to sound casual, but her voice wavered slightly. “Guess what?”

You raised an eyebrow, closing your book. “What?”

“I did it,” she said, brushing her hair back with a dramatic sigh. “I asked Lance out.”

Your stomach dropped, though you weren’t sure why. “Lance?” you repeated, the name unfamiliar in your mouth. You knew who he was, of course—everyone did. Lance was the golden boy, the guy everyone admired but seemed untouchable, especially for someone like you.

Stacy nodded, her eyes darting to you nervously. “Yeah. I mean, why not, right? He’s… well, perfect.” She paused, waiting for your reaction. “He said no, though.”

You blinked, surprised. “He did?”

Her shoulders slumped, a mixture of disappointment and confusion crossing her face. “Yeah. He said he… wasn’t interested. But I swear, the way he looked at me—it was like he wanted to say something else.”

You didn’t know what to say, but before you could respond, a shadow fell over the table. Looking up, you froze. It was Lance, standing there with his hands shoved in his pockets, his piercing gaze fixed entirely on you.