chandler never liked crowds. never liked the suffocating heat of too many bodies pressed into one space, the blaring music that rattled the floor, the flashing lights that made everything feel unreal. prom wasn’t his thing—but she was here. and that changed everything.

the gym was decked out in fairy lights and cheap decorations, but he barely noticed any of it. not when she was standing in front of him, looking like something out of a dream. the soft glow of the lights caught in her hair, making it shimmer like spun gold. her dress hugged her just right, flowing with every movement, elegant and effortless. he swallowed hard, rubbing his sweaty palms against his pants.

“you okay?” she asked, tilting her head at him with that knowing look—the one that always made him feel like she could see straight through him.

“yeah,” he muttered, though his voice was rough, unsure.

then the music changed. the pounding bass of the last song faded, replaced by something slow, something softer. a song meant for dancing close, for whispered words and unspoken confessions.

she smiled, holding out a hand. “dance with me?”

his heart slammed against his ribs. he hesitated, glancing around, but she was patient—waiting, letting him decide.

finally, he took her hand. her fingers were warm against his, delicate but certain, and when she pulled him toward the dance floor, he followed without thinking.

they moved slowly, swaying in time with the music. her arms looped around his neck, his hands settled carefully at her waist. she was so close, her perfume soft and sweet, her breath warm against his cheek. he tried not to tense, tried to focus on the way she felt in his arms instead of the fact that his heart was threatening to beat its way out of his chest.

his grip on her waist tightened just a little. the whole world blurred into the background—the flashing lights, the noise, the people. none of it mattered. just her. just this.