My Date to the Gala

t the campus group

t night to remember. Formal at

olled her eyes, dropping her phon

orner of his mouth as he sipped his coffee across from her. "You hate that

aloupe like it had personally offended her. "I just don't see the point in dressing up f

ur last big event. After this, it's graduation gowns and em

he part of her that wondered if he ever looked at her a little too lo

he asked, forc

rugging. "If I find

y Ethan Calloway needs help findin

at can I say? H

ened-brief, invisible. It always did when he s

ast now. She and Ethan had been inseparable since sophomore year, meeting by chance at a student film screening. Now, the

on't expect me to help you pick a tie

'd never let me go to a formal eve

only because I refuse to be seen

tching her. "You know... if you change yo

asked it with a casual shrug

n his tone felt different. Softer. Like the w

canning the quad but not

irst," she muttered, brushing it

the silence between their words held something

ner in the library - not because they had real studying

gh his film theory notes. Lena sat cross-legged beside him, typing away on her laptop bu

ght he

rinning like he'd c

down at her screen. "Just wondering how you've made it fo

ed proudly. "It's

head, amused.

lov

s the p

was always their rhythm - right up to the

ainst the couch cushion, eyes shut. "Do you ever think

topped

?" she ask

our best-selling novel. I'll be chasing indie film dreams or stuck editing wedd

the window. The shelves they used to hide behind during finals.

ental," she whispered

ching her. "You're str

dly. "You alw

se it'

fear, longing - all twisted into one overwhelming

mething they'd regret, her phone b

ron

ing if anyone's asked

stared at the message

r to peek. "Oh.

reen immediately,

yes?" he asked,

" she said. "D

ed. "Just

between them changed again.

respond t

t

e her. The light from the window had softened, turning everything gold - their last coll

alked," Ethan said after a momen

e class last semester. I gue

e more than polit

m. "What's that

messy from leaning on the couch. "You sho

inched at that. "Is that what

nce, Lena. Not a m

said softly,

a long second, watching the way he avoided her gaze. Her heart ached in the way

her things. "I should go. I've

. "Want me t

I'm g

. "Okay. See

weakly. "Ye

, her phone buzzed

, follo

s message she wa

ace, right befor

t asked her not to g