My room turned into a full operation.
Clothes everywhere.
Bed? Gone. Covered.
Chair? Also gone. Covered.
My sanity? Questionable.
"I said I want to look good," I reminded them.
Nena stood in front of me, arms crossed like a professional stylist.
"Not too much. Just good."
She nodded.
"I heard you the first three times."
Luca was sitting on the floor.
For no reason.
Just… there.
Holding one of my dresses like he was emotionally attached to it.
"Option one," Nena said, holding it up.
Simple.
Soft.
Pretty.
I tilted my head.
"…This feels like I'm going to apologize for something."
"Okay, no," she dropped it.
"Option two."
Slightly more styled.
More noticeable.
Still me.
I narrowed my eyes.
"…This feels like I'm trying."
"You are trying," she said flatly.
"Option three."
She held it up.
And paused.
I blinked.
"…Oh."
It wasn't loud.
Not dramatic.
Just—
right.
Luca looked up.
"…That one."
We both turned to him.
"You didn't even think," I said.
"I don't need to," he replied.
I took the dress from Nena.
Held it up against myself.
Looked in the mirror.
"…Okay."
A small smile.
"…Okay, I like this."
"Good," Nena said, satisfied.
Then she turned to her own pile like she had her life together.
From the floor—
Luca spoke again.
Very casually.
"By the way, Mark asked me to go to prom with him."
Silence.
I turned slowly.
"…What?"
Nena didn't even look up.
"So now he's taking you."
Luca blinked.
"…I think so?"
I stared.
Then laughed.
"That's so Mark."
They both looked at me.
"…What does that mean?" Luca asked.
"He's lonely," I said simply. "Very lonely."
Nena nodded.
"Extremely."
Then she glanced at Luca.
"You two would look good together."
Luca froze.
Then glared softly.
"…We are not together."
A pause.
"…I think."
That made it worse.
I laughed.
Nena laughed.
Even Luca let out a small, defeated breath.
"Relax," I said. "It's just prom."
"That's what scares me," he muttered.
Nena finally picked up her own dress.
Held it up.
Didn't even hesitate.
"This one."
I looked at it.
Then at her.
"…Yeah. That's very you."
She smirked slightly.
"I know."
I turned back to the mirror.
Holding my dress again.
This time—
really looking.
Not too much.
Not trying too hard.
Just…
good.
And for once—
that felt enough.
--------
Night fell like it had been waiting for us.
The mansion felt unusually alive—voices bouncing between rooms, footsteps, last-minute panic, and laughter trying to hide nerves.
My room was chaos.
But the good kind.
Nena stood in front of the mirror like she owned the world.
And honestly?
She kind of did.
Her short black hair was styled perfectly—messy in a way that looked intentional, like she didn't need effort to look this good. The dress she wore was sharp but elegant, hugging her in a way that matched her confidence instead of competing with it.
She turned slightly.
"…You're staring."
"I'm observing greatness," I said.
She scoffed.
"Please. You're literally glowing."
I looked at myself in the mirror.
Blonde hair loose, soft waves falling over my shoulders. No glasses tonight—carefully tucked into my bag. My blue eyes looked clearer, brighter, like they weren't hiding behind anything for once.
"…I don't know what you're talking about."
Nena smirked.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
We both looked at each other.
A pause.
Then—
"You look good."
"No, you look better."
"Don't lie."
"I'm not lying."
"You're lying."
"You're lying harder."
We both stopped.
"…We both look good."
"Agreed."
The door opened.
And the boys walked in.
Jake first.
Suit sharp, clean, fitted perfectly. Confident posture like he was already late but refused to care. He looked annoyingly put together.
"Time," he said simply.
Then paused.
"…Okay."
That was his reaction to Nena.
Just—okay.
Which somehow meant a lot coming from him.
Mark followed.
And he looked—
soft.
Not weak.
Just… calm.
His suit was simple, dark, perfectly fitted without trying too hard. His slightly messy curls made him look effortless, like he didn't spend a second overthinking it—but still ended up looking good anyway.
He nodded once.
"You both look good."
That was it.
Very Mark.
Very accurate.
Then—
Luca came in.
And immediately—
the mood shifted.
Because Luca looked soft soft.
His hair was slightly fluffy, falling into his eyes. His suit wasn't stiff like the others—it had a gentle, almost comfortable feel to it, like he dressed for warmth instead of impressing people.
He looked like he accidentally walked into a prom instead of preparing for it.
And he walked straight to Mark.
Immediately.
Clinging.
"I'm coming with you," Luca said, grabbing Mark's sleeve.
Mark blinked.
"…Yes."
"I don't trust crowds."
"I noticed."
"I will stay next to you the whole time."
"That sounds exhausting."
"It's love."
Mark paused.
"…It is not."
Luca nodded seriously.
"It is."
Jake sighed.
"I'm surrounded by emotional dependence."
Nena patted his arm.
"You love it."
"I tolerate it."
Luca leaned closer to Mark again.
"You said you'd take me out."
"I said I would accompany you."
"That's the same thing."
"It is not."
"It is emotionally."
Mark stared at him.
"…You're very clingy today."
"I always am. You just notice more when I'm dressed nicely."
I laughed softly.
"That's actually fair."
Mark looked at me.
"…Please don't encourage him."
Nena checked the time.
"We're late."
Jake nodded.
"Of course we are."
They all started moving.
Jake already pulling Nena gently toward the door.
Mark adjusting Luca's sleeve as Luca still clung to him like a very well-dressed koala.
At the door—
Nena looked back.
"Good luck."
Jake added, "Don't embarrass yourself."
"I won't," I said.
He tilted his head.
"…Debatable."
And then—
they left.
The house felt quieter instantly.
I exhaled.
Picked up my bag.
Stepped out.
Mrs. May was downstairs waiting.
She looked at me and smiled softly.
"…You look beautiful."
I walked over and hugged her quickly.
"…Thank you."
She squeezed my hand.
"Have fun."
Outside—
A car was waiting.
Ethan.
He stepped out the moment he saw me.
And froze.
Just for a second.
Like his brain needed time to process.
"…Wow," he said softly.
I blinked.
"…Is that bad?"
He shook his head immediately.
"No."
A small smile formed.
"Not bad at all."
He looked at me again.
Like he was trying not to stare too long.
"…You look really good."
I felt my ears warm slightly.
"…You don't look bad either."
He laughed quietly.
"Thanks."
He opened the door for me.
I got in.
The car started moving.
Silence.
Comfortable.
Not heavy.
Just… present.
After a while, I glanced at him.
"…So where are we going?"
He smiled slightly.
"Not a restaurant."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…That sounds suspicious."
"It's not."
"Ethan."
"It's fun."
I leaned back slowly.
"…Okay."
And for once—
I didn't need more answers.
I just went with him.