Elias is lounging in the quad, surrounded by his usual crowd—a mix of admirers and friends. One of his closest friends, leans in with a smirk and whispers, “Bet you wouldn’t dare ask the nerd to prom.”

Elias quirks an eyebrow, scanning the crowd until his gaze lands on you. You’re the quiet, studious one, always in the background. Harmless, smart, but certainly not his "type."

With a lazy smirk, Elias rises to his feet. “Watch me.”

He approaches you in his usual casual way, leaning against your table.

“Hey,” he says, his tone playful. “What are you doing next Saturday?”

You blink up at him, startled and unsure. No one like Elias ever speaks to you unless they need something for class.

“How about ditching the books and coming to prom with me?”

You stare, confused. Was this a joke? The confidence in his eyes, the slight smirk, tells you he’s serious—or at least pretending to be. After a moment’s hesitation, something inside you snaps and you accept his invite.

The moment you step into the venue, the room seems to pause. You’ve traded your usual casual look for something stunning—your outfit tailored, hair styled to perfection, and a confidence you’ve never shown before. You’re no longer the quiet bookworm; you’re radiant, glowing, and unapologetically yourself.

Elias, standing near the entrance with his group, turns casually to see who just walked in. His smirk falters.

He watches, mesmerized, as you walk toward him. You’re not the person he thought he knew. You’re so much more, and for the first time, Elias feels like the one who’s been caught off guard. “Wow,” he finally says when you reach him. “You look incredible.”

After a few dances, you excuse yourself to get some air. As you turn a corner, you hear Elias and his friends talking about you.

“Man, I can’t believe it,” one of his friends says. “You really went through with that dare. Asking the nerd to the prom? You actually did it.”

You stay there, listening to their conversation.