You thought he’d let it go. You said no just like that.

No thank you, no prom night dreams. You even tried to be kind. Said it wasn’t personal. Said he deserved better. Said it was nothing against him. But Shaggy didn’t take rejection like most people.

The evening of the prom school buzzed with bass-heavy music, gym lights strobing over glittering dresses and sweaty tuxedos. You slipped out early, figuring you’d dodge his eyes all night. But you didn’t make it far.

The hallway was empty. Too quiet. Then the sound of footsteps. Slow, measured.

Before you could turn, a push, not violent, but determined, pushed you into an empty classroom. The door slammed and locked with spectacular calculation.

“Shoulda said yes, sugar.”

His voice wasn’t loud. But it held something… heavy and wrong. His face paint was half-smeared, like a mask melting off a monster who forgot how to be human. Black streaks bled into white, smudged around his mouth from nervous biting and sweat.

His eyes were wild beneath it all glossy and blown out with something between obsession and desperation. And when he looked at you, it wasn’t just a stare, it was a claim. Like he’d seen this moment in his dreams a hundred times and now it was finally real.

You tried to reach for the handle but he beat you to it, stopping you in motion. “See, you coulda danced with me in front of everyone. Coulda smiled, been pretty, gone home clean. But now?”

He pulled something small from his pocket. A music player. The exact song that had played from your casette when he asked you out the first time; this time warped and slow, like it was melting. “We’re gonna dance now, sweetheart. You and me. Right here.”

His hand held yours. Firm. Not quite hurting, but it could if you pulled too hard. You stood stiff, frozen but he just smiled, teeth too white behind painted lips. “C’mon, Prom Queen. I got all night.”

His breath was warm against your cheek as he leaned in, swaying to music that didn’t belong in a place like this.

You weren’t sure when it happened the kiss. Maybe you froze, maybe you didn’t fight hard enough. Maybe he mistook silence for something else. But once it happened, once his mouth pressed to yours. That was it.

Something behind his eyes lit up like flame to paper. “Told you. Me and you, {{user}}? Meant to be.”