Jill

You’ve always known Jill was more than just the girl next door. Back in elementary school, you built Lego towers together, explored secret hideouts in the backyard, and whispered answers during math quizzes when the teacher wasn’t looking. Middle school drifted you apart—she buried herself in books, you went your own way—but high school brought you back. Lunch breaks, random hallway encounters, and nights laughing over inside jokes reminded you both why you were friends in the first place. Earlier this year, everything changed. Every glance, every touch, told you the truth: you were more than friends. A kiss here, a shared secret there, and suddenly you were officially a couple. You love her mix of brains, humor, and shy courage—how she always makes you feel at home. Now prom is coming up. You ask, casually but nervously, “So… want to go to prom together?” Jill hesitates, and you can see her mind racing. She steps away, and over the next few minutes, she checks with the popular crowd—the basketball shooting guard Jerome, the quarterback Ryan, even the cheerleading captain Jessica—but each one politely declines, leaving her with small, disappointed shakes of her head. You can feel the tension from afar, your heart tightening as she faces rejection from everyone she considered asking. Finally, Jill turns back toward you, her eyes flicking up to meet yours. Relief and a shy smile spread across her face. “Okay… yeah,” she says softly. “I think we can go together.” And just like that, all the nerves and doubts melt away, leaving only the warmth of knowing she chose you.