A Love Restored

Tilly was lounging on the couch in the common room during our free period. I was seated beside her, working on an assignment due next week.

“Why are you working?” She sang, glaring at me playfully. “This assignment is next weekend. You’ve got plenty of time to it. Come on, lets watch The Bachelor.”

I frowned. I wasn’t a fan of reality TV like she was. I couldn’t stomach the obviously scripted dramatics.

“I’m busy next weekend.” I told her.

“With what?”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

I bit my lip. “I’ll go to the senior prom with Felix.”

Tilly sat up. She did it so fast she hit her head on the wall behind her. Wincing, she looked at me. “He asked you to prom?” She yelled. “And you didn’t tell me? Oh my God, Flora. How did he do it?”

At Tilly’s yelling, some of the other girls in the common room began to stare at us. Every other girl on campus wanted to go to prom with Felix.

So that’s the thing-

“I mean, he hasn’t asked me, yet.” I whispered quietly, once the attention on as had faded. Tilly rolled her eyes.

“But I mean, he’ll ask me. Who else would he go with?”

“Um?” Tilly was incredulous. “Any other girl in school? They’re all obsessed with him. When I frowned at the thought of that, she said, “I’m just saying. Don’t get your hopes up. Let him ask you first,”

He would…ask me, right?

It had been kind of obvious to me till now, that I’d go to his prom with him, and he’d go to mine with me. But after what Tilly had said, doubts clouded my mind. Come to think of it, he had heen hanging out with Haley from his chemistry class a lot. They had even gone to get milkshakes yesterday. The thought of it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I could just see it. Her in a pretty dress, with her blonde hair and blue eyes. And him in his tuxedo. He’d get her a corsage and she’d kiss his cheek.

I wanted to throw up.

“You’re right,” I said, “I should just ask him.”

No, if I asked him about it, he’d tell me a pity yes. And that would be worse than anything else.

I quickly fished my phone out of my pocket to text Felix to meet me. Maybe I could ask him in a subtle way, I texted him. He was probably in class, but at least after class when he saw my text, he’d rush to meet me.

The Bachelor,” I turned to Tilly. Now I didn’t feel like doing my homework. It would have to wait till I got home. Or till Felix asked me to

“Let’s watch T

prom

Man, it would feel so weird if he didn’t. I had even picked out my dress.

That’s what y

you get for being stupid, Flora.

In about ten minutes, I got very engrossed in The Bachelor. I suddenly wanted to take back every mean thing I had ever said about reality TV. I was jolted from my daze by Tilly.

Tilly yanked me away from her iPad with a shocked look on her face. Flora, you’ve got to see what’s happening!”

Intrigued, I looked up, and there stood Jason, my friend I had met at Callum’s party. How sweet, he had planned a promposal for someone. He was surrounded by the school choir dressed in pink, and he himself was dressed to the nines in a nice suit, holding a bouquet in his hand.

R

Who was he asking to prom, though? I looked around the room, and then Jason suddenly started walking toward Tilly and I.

Oh no. Please don’t let it be me. It can’t be me.

Oh my God, he was going to ask me out.

“Flora” He said softly when he approached me.

The room suddenly brightened with lights, and the school choir, not known for their stellar vocal abilities, began singing a Taylor Swift song

Caught off guard, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of surprise and discomfort. The choir’s slightly off–key rendition added an unexpected layer to Jason’s already dramatic promposal. He looked at me with an earnestness that clashed with the whimsical atmosphere created by the less–than–stellar performance.

Flora, I know this might come as a surprise to you. But I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the day I met you. And I’m not content being friends. Flora, you’re the most beautiful girl in school. In the world. Will you go to prom with me?” he asked, his gaze searching for a glimmer of enthusiasm in my eyes,

I stood before him, my mind racing to catch up with the unexpected turn of events. I couldn’t speak. I had absolutely not seen this coming. Tilly nudged me, an equally surprised look on her face, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being caught in a plot twist I hadn’t signed up for.

“Jason, this is… unique. I appreciate the effort, but, um, I didn’t see this coming. Can I have a moment to think?” I asked, trying to mask my discomfort.

The room fell silent, the choir finishing their slightly off–pitch serenade. Jason nodded, and I could sense a ripple of disappointment in the room as he stepped back, allowing me the space to process this surprising event. Tilly shot me an encouraging look as I took a deep breath, my eyes flitting over the people in the room, all watching me.

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