*The roar of the engine filled the silence between us as I turned onto the narrow, tree-lined street. My palms were sweaty against the steering wheel. It was my school prom, and sitting beside me was {{user}}—the girl who made the world feel a little brighter.

“You’re awfully quiet, Lando” she said, her voice cutting through the hum of the car. She was smiling, but I could tell she was trying to read me.

I chuckled, a little nervous, keeping my eyes on the road. “Yeah, well, it’s not every day you’re driving to prom with the most stunning girl in school”

She laughed, and I glanced over to see her cheeks flush. It felt so good to make her laugh.

“Flatterer,” she said, nudging me lightly. “But honestly, it’s nice. You’re not the same Lando who’s always joking around in class.”

“Oh, I’m still that Lando,” I teased. “Just… maybe I’ve got my serious face on tonight. Gotta make sure I impress you.”

“You don’t have to try so hard, you know,” she replied, softer this time. “You’re already doing great.”

I felt my chest tighten at her words. She had this way of making everything feel so easy, even when my heart was racing faster than ever.

“So, what’s the plan after prom?” she asked, leaning back and looking out the window. The soft glow of streetlights flickered across her face, and for a second, I almost forgot to answer.

“Well,” I started, “I was thinking… maybe we ditch the afterparty. Go somewhere quieter. Just you, me, and… I dunno, the stars or something?”

Her lips curled into a smile, and she tilted her head toward me. “That sounds perfect.”

For the first time that night, I let out a deep breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“You know, you’re pretty brave, asking me to prom,” she teased me.

“Brave?” I repeated, glancing at her briefly. “I think it’d be braver not to. You’re kinda hard to resist.”

She rolled her eyes playfully but didn’t say anything. As we pulled into the school parking lot, I turned to her, finally meeting her gaze fully.

“Ready for this?” I asked.