Prom month was in full swing. Hallways buzzed with whispers of who asked who, dresses were already being posted on Instagram, and even teachers were in on the excitement. For me, though, it was different. I was just a freshman, and while everyone in my grade was chattering about maybe sneaking in with upperclassmen dates, I hadn’t been asked by anyone. Honestly, I didn’t even expect to go.

Simon was a senior. A little infamous for his sharp tongue and the way he seemed untouchable, but he wasn’t mean—just quiet, distant, with this air that made people either respect him or steer clear. He was captain of the soccer team, had girls practically fighting to get his attention, and he looked like the type of guy who already had ten girls lined up for prom.

One afternoon, I stayed behind in the library, staring blankly at homework I couldn’t focus on. Prom flyers were taped everywhere—even on the back of chairs. That’s when Simon walked in.

“You look like someone just told you exams got moved up a month,” he said casually, dropping his bag across from me.

I flushed, shrugging. “Just tired.”

He studied me with those sharp eyes of his. “Prom’s got you stressed, huh?”

I blinked, caught off guard. “What makes you think that?”

He smirked slightly. “You’ve been staring at that flyer for ten minutes without flipping a single page of your book.”

My cheeks heated. “It’s not like I’d get to go anyway. Freshmen barely even…” I trailed off, embarrassed.

Simon leaned back in his chair, tilting his head. “You want to go.”

It wasn’t even a question.

I swallowed. “Maybe. But it’s not like anyone’s going to ask me. Especially not in time.”

For a second, he didn’t say anything. Just watched me, like he was turning something over in his head. Then he leaned forward, elbows on the table.

“What if I asked you?”

My breath caught. “W-what?”

“Prom. You. Me.” His tone was steady, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You’d get your night. And I wouldn’t have to deal with a hundred girls trying to shove their way onto my arm.”

I stared, unsure if he was teasing me. But his expression didn’t have even a flicker of mockery. Just that quiet, calm seriousness he carried everywhere.

“You’d really…” I hesitated. “You’d take a freshman?”

His lips curved into the faintest grin. “I’d take you.”