After the announcement of the mid-term party, the hallways of Caveroop High exploded into chaos, the kind of chaos that smells like roses and sugar, and feels like a scene straight out of a teenage rom-com.
Everywhere I turned, there were flowers taped to lockers, cookies passed around in heart-shaped tins, and love notes drifting through the air like confetti. It was like Valentine's Day had crash-landed in the middle of October. Pink and red streamers hung from bulletin boards, and students had started wearing way more perfume than necessary as if sweet scents alone could charm someone into saying yes.
It felt like every five minutes, someone was getting asked out, guys stammering through their confessions, girls giggling into their hands, and the occasional dramatic scene involving a rejected proposal and a crying fit outside the cafeteria. Love was in the air, literally and with it came drama, envy, and the sting of rejection.
Not everyone was having a fairytale week. While some floated around on cloud nine, others were crashing hard. There were whispers in the hallways, breakups over text, and teary eyes behind bathroom doors. Some students hadn't even been approached yet, and with just one week left before the party, desperation had started to creep in.
As for me? Well, my situation wasn't exactly simple.
Being popular is... exhilarating. There's a strange kind of thrill that comes from being the center of attention, people knowing your name, smiling at you in the hallways, talking about your outfit like you're some sort of trendsetter. I'd almost forgotten how intoxicating it can feel.
But it also has its downside.
Every single guy wanted to be my date. Half of them didn't even know my last name, yet they still left things in my locker like we'd been best friends forever.
Every time I opened it, a new mountain of gifts spilled out. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, tiny teddy bears with my name stitched on them, handwritten poems (some painfully cheesy), glittery cards, roses of all colors, it was enough to make me gag.
"Wow," Summer gasped, her eyes wide as she stared into the glittering abyss that was my locker. "Lucky you! I wish I got this many requests."
"I'd be happy to switch lockers," I muttered as I scooped armfuls of trinkets and dumped them into the nearest trash can. Some of the chocolate still had price tags on them. "Honestly, this is getting ridiculous."
Summer let out a dreamy sigh. "I envy you, you know."
"Why?" I said, brushing rose petals off my math textbook. "This isn't romance, it's marketing."
Just then, Eska walked up, raising an eyebrow at the chaos. "So, which one are you going out with?"
I snorted. "None. I barely know any of them."
"What about you guys?" I asked, shifting the spotlight.
Eska shrugged. "No dates for me. Not that I care."
I turned to Summer, already sensing her excitement bubbling up.
"Daniel asked me out," she said, trying and failing to hide her grin.
"Who the hell is Daniel?"
Summer gasped like I'd committed a crime. "Oh my god, don't tell me you don't know Daniel Martinez."
"Never heard of him."
"He's one of the top players in the school's basketball team second only to Jesse. He's kind of a big deal."
"Famous, huh?" I raised an eyebrow. "Funny, I've literally never heard his name until now."
Summer rolled her eyes. "That's because you're too busy being everyone's dream girl to notice anyone outside your orbit."
"Or maybe," I smirked, "I've just got better things to do than memorize the school's gaming leaderboard."
We laughed, but underneath the jokes and headed to class
...
During recess, the cafeteria buzzed with its usual chatter and clatter, trays clinking, sneakers squeaking against tile, and the occasional burst of laughter echoing through the space. I slid into my usual seat beside Pink, setting down my tray, which was mostly untouched food and a half-melted strawberry yogurt.
Pink glanced at me with a smirk, sipping her iced tea. "So… found a date yet?" she asked, her voice casual, but her eyes sharp with mischief. "Word is, half the boys are ready to throw hands just to get on your radar."
I shot her a look. "And I guess you're the reason they all know my locker combination?"
She gave a light, unapologetic laugh and popped a grape into her mouth. "Maybe."
Before I could retort, Clary appeared at our table like a burst of energy, practically bouncing on her toes. She dropped into the seat across from us, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Girls, I have a date!" she declared, clutching her phone like it might burst into glitter at any moment.
Pink and Summer leaned forward in unison, eyebrows raised. "Ooh, who is he?" they asked like synchronized swimmers.
Clary leaned in, eyes twinkling. "He's not a student."
That stopped the table cold.
We all blinked, then slowly turned to look at her.
Pink's lips curled. "Not a student? As in...?"
"He's older, a college student." Clary rushed to explain. "He's name is Philip, we met during that mural project last month. He's super sweet. Plays the guitar, too."
"Well, lucky you," Summer said, smiling. "Someone who won't get detention for flirting with you in chemistry class."
Then their gazes turned to me like a spotlight had just been flicked on.
"What about you, Terra?" Pink asked, her voice silky. "Still keeping the throne empty?"
I gave a nonchalant shrug. "Erm… no one special yet."
That's when Pink reached into her designer handbag and, with a flourish, slid a sealed envelope across the table toward me.
It landed beside my tray with a soft thump. The envelope was a pale green, the color of spring leaves, with tiny red hearts sketched around the edges like a border.
"That's from Zack," she said, smiling in a way that suggested she knew exactly what was inside. "He gave it to me personally. Said he didn't want to risk throwing it in your locker with the rest of the fan mail."
I raised an eyebrow. "And whose fault is that?" I muttered, even as I reached for the envelope.
Pink just shrugged innocently and took another sip of tea.
I peeled the envelope open and pulled out a folded pink sheet of paper. It smelled faintly of cologne and was carefully written in tidy handwriting.
The words were simple, but sweet. No big speeches. No forced poetry. Just an honest, gentle ask.
I couldn't help the smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
Clary leaned in with a teasing grin. "That smile looks promising. Does that mean…?"
I folded the letter slowly, setting it back on the table like it was made of glass.
"It's a date," I said softly.
Pink gave a small, satisfied hum, while Summer clasped her hands together with a squeal. Clary shot me a thumbs-up like we were in some coming-of-age movie montage.
...
Later that day, just as the sun began to mellow into a golden haze, I found myself at the school park, the air warm with the scent of cut grass and the distant hum of laughter from other students. A breeze fluttered through the trees, making the leaves whisper softly above us.
Zack was already there, sitting alone on a wooden bench beneath the big oak tree, the one with initials carved into the trunk from couples long gone. He looked up as I approached, his fingers tapping anxiously against his jeans.
"Hey," I said, offering a small wave.
"Hey," he replied, and we both sat. For a moment, the silence between us was awkward like neither of us knew how to begin. The breeze played with strands of his hair, brushing them across his forehead, and I found myself oddly captivated by how ordinary and human he looked.
I cleared my throat. "Erm… I saw your letter."
He scratched the back of his head, glancing away with a sheepish grin. "Yeah… about that. I wasn't sure if it was too much. Or too little. I just wanted to be real, you know?"
There was something about his honesty that made me soften.
"It's not what I expected," I admitted. "But… yeah. I'll be your date."
Zack turned to face me, his expression shifting into one of genuine surprise and then a slow, boyish smile spread across his face. His blue eyes lit up, reflecting the amber hue of the fading sun. For a second, the world quieted around us.
"I'll see you Saturday night then," he said, his voice a little steadier now.
I nodded, smiling back. "Yeah. See you."
I stood, brushing imaginary dust off my skirt, and walked away, my green mini bag swinging at my back with each step. I didn't look back but the warmth in my chest lingered, like I was carrying a secret only I had just discovered.