The campus was buzzing all day. Flyers everywhere, string lights being hung from trees, speakers being tested in the quad—San Diego State’s college prom was all anyone could talk about. It wasn’t your typical high school dance. This was on another level. Held in a huge rooftop venue overlooking downtown San Diego, it was the kind of night that felt like a movie scene waiting to happen.

Jake, 19, adjusted his tie in the mirror, smoothing down his suit jacket as his phone buzzed.

Raelene: “I’m outside. Don’t freak out.”

He blinked. Don’t freak out? That could only mean one thing—she was about to look even more stunning than usual.

Jake jogged down the stairs of his dorm and out the front doors. And there she was—Raelene, standing under the glow of a streetlamp, in a long deep red satin dress that shimmered every time she moved. Her hair was curled perfectly, and when she smiled at him, everything else kind of faded.

“Whoa,” he said, nearly forgetting how to breathe. “Okay, you were right. I’m freaking out.”

Raelene laughed. “You clean up pretty nice too.”

They got into the Uber, music softly playing as the city lights blurred past the window. Her hand slipped into his, warm and familiar, and Jake squeezed it gently.

“You excited?” she asked, glancing at him.

“I am now,” he said. “I mean… prom, with you. Doesn’t really get better.”

When they arrived at the venue, it was magic—twinkle lights strung across the rooftop, a live band playing jazz-funk covers, and a photo booth already lined with students posing with ridiculous props. The ocean breeze blew in just enough to keep the night cool.

Jake and Raelene walked in together, turning heads. Not because they were trying to—but because they had that quiet kind of energy, like they belonged right there, side by side.

They danced for hours—slow, fast, and everything in between. They snuck away to the balcony to sip punch and look out over the city, laughing about college stress, midterms, and how far they’d come since their days back in L.A.

“Can you believe we’re actually here?” Jake said, slipping his arm around her waist.

Raelene rested her head on his shoulder. “We’ve gone from sneaking snacks into study halls to dancing on rooftops. I think we’re doing alright.”

Jake looked down at her, completely content. “We’ll remember this night forever.”

She smiled. “I already do.”