>You scratched your head in growing frustration over the math problems that were laid out before you.
>Trig was proving to be a difficult nemesis to conquer. But you had to finish it before next class.
>”Heya!”
>You jumped in your seat at the cheery voice that cut through your headphones.
>The voice came from a girl that had suddenly sat down across from you.
>An actual real girl.
>Everything about her exuded a cheerful energy.
>Her bright blue eyes gleamed playfully as they watched you curiously.
>Her mouth was curved into a warm smile highlighted with dark blue lipstick.
>Her ponytail swished with each minute movement of her head, carrying the blissful scent of the girl's scented shampoo.
>The lump in your throat is growing bigger with each passing second, an animistic urge beginning to whisper in your mind.
>”Hellloooo?”
>Your vision is blurred by a blue hand waving back and forth in your face.
“Wh-huh?”
>The girl covered her mouth with her hand and let out a bubbly giggle.
>”You were really out of it there, dude!” She slid one of your worksheets around to face her. “Ugh, I can see why.” She sticks her tongue out and flips the paper back towards you.
>Your mind was still trying to catch up to the reality that a girl as pretty as here was actually acknowledging you, much less talking to you.
“I-...Can I help you?”
>”Wanna go to prom with me?”
>Kernel Panic - not syncing: Unable to mount brain.
>Any coherent words you tried to form automatically die in your throat as you stammered out a verbal seizure.
“I-I-I-you-I-you-we-the-duh...Uh.”
>The girl rests her chin on her hands and giggles.
>”Took ya by surprise, huh?”
>Eventually, you managed to stop gawking and take a deep breath.
“We-I mean. I-...I don’t even know your name.”
>The girl gasped and slapped her forehead “Oh! Right! Teehee! Sorry I’m, like, kinda nervous.” She twiddled a lock of her turquoise hair with a finger and let out a chuckle.
>Hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng.
>She extended her free hand out, taking yours into a gentle shake.
>Don’t sweat Don’t sweat Don’t sweat Don’t sweat.
>The skin of her palms felt silky soft and divine against your trembling hand.
>”I’m Sonata. Sonata Dusk. It’s super nice to meet ya!”
“Anon. So...can I ask a question?”
>Sonata hums and nods her head.
“Why are you asking me to the prom?”
>You gesture your confusion with your hands.
“Y-you didn’t even know my name.”
>”Hmm? Oh! You looked super lonely sittin over here and I wanted a date to the prom. Pluuuuussss-”
>Sonata tapped the table with manicured fingers as she hid a bashful smile underneath her sweater. ”I also thought you were kinda cute.”
>You? Cute?
>After being dumbstruck by her confession, you peer around the library for any hints of shenanigans.
>Your eyes fell upon a table at the other end of the building, with two girls who watched your interaction expectantly.
>One was orange with large, orange flowing locks that threatened to swallow the chair she sat in.
>The other was purple and sported twin-tails highlighted by a neon green.
>As soon as they felt noticed, they quickly turned their heads away.
>Sonata leaned over in her chair to bring your attention back to her beaming face.
>”Anywaaay I just thought this would be, y’know like, a great way to get to know each other!”
>The way she expressed so vigorously with her hands when she talked was adorable.
>Her eyes flicked nervously over your face as she anxiously waited for your answer.
>You were probably just as anxious if not more so than she was.
>You gave Sonata your best attempt at a warm smile and nodded.
“Sure. I’d like that.”
>Sonata's face lit up with a wide smile as she clapped her hands and bounced in her seat.
“YAAAY OHMIGOSH I-”
>Her outburst is cut short by a chorus of hushes from scattered groups of students around the library.
>Sonata clamped her hands over her mouth as she tried to shrink into herself, eyes frantically scanning the crowd of annoyed glares focused on her.
>Once the glares had subsided, Sonata hid her mouth behind her sleeves as a rosy tint washed over her cheeks.
>”-I’m so excited. Yay.” She whispered.
>You can’t help but smile at her antics, your confidence given a mild boost at this turn of events.
“So what now?”
>Sonata leaned over the table with her arms outstretched towards you. “Gimme your phone!”
>You took your phone out of your pocket and placed it into her waiting hands.
>After a moment, she had added her phone number to your contacts, as well as every other social media she could think of.
>”There ya go! Now we can talk all the time!” She shook her fists and quietly squealed. “Oooh I’m so excited!”
>Before you can share your excitement with Sonata, the bell clamored and echoed throughout the room, signalling that it was time for class.
>Sonata stood up from her chair and waved. “I gotta go, Anon. Text me!”
>She giggled before she skipped away towards a table that those other girls were sitting at.
>The twin-tailed one looked at you with a sly smile on her face and gave you a knowing wink.
>You leaned back in your chair and took a deep breath.
>...
>...
>Tonight was the night.
>You’d mentally prepared yourself for this night for the last two months.
>This had been the first time you felt the urge to dress so...distinguished.
>Elated at the prospect of their son finally having a date, your parents chipped in to buy you a rental suit for the night.
>Your hands trembled as they adjusted your cuffs for the umpteenth time.
>Dress shirt is clear of any wrinkles and stains.
>Breath is sufficiently crescent fresh.
>Better pop another piece of gum in to make sure.
>You unwrap another stick and add it to the growing mass that was being rolled around in your teeth.
>As you chewed the wad, visions unfolded in your mind of how you imagined the night would go.
>Crowded in a stuffy dance hall, surrounded by classmates who never gave you a notice any other day.
>A DJ playing top 20 songs who was either an eager student trying to make a name for themselves or someone who was getting paid with the buffet leftovers.
>The thought of being in a situation that was so out of your element made you squirm uncomfortably.
>But the mental image that helped steel yourself for it all was comforting; Sonata.
>School days had proven to be a lot less dull now that Sonata tagged along with you during any free time.
>Nights were spent texting each other into the wee hours in the morning.
>Any initial hesitation you had was swept away as you felt yourself grow closer to the girl. It stirred a warm feeling in your heart to think about her.
>A couple weeks ago, Sonata had sent a picture of the dress she planned on wearing.
>A dark red dress adorned with sequins that flowed down to ankle length.
>Your requests to see her in the dress were playfully denied each time.
>She teased that you weren’t allowed to see her in it yet, that it would spoil the fun.
>You took a deep breath as you stood up straighter, eager to make yourself as presentable as possible for your date.
>...
>...
>It’s getting late.
>She said she’d be here half an hour ago.
>You check your past texts with her to make sure you didn’t read them wrong.
>The last one she sent was this morning.
>”Heya cutie! Cant wait 4 tonite! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3”
>She might just be running late.
>Despite having very little experience with girls, you were very much aware of the exorbitant amount of time it took them to get ready.
>Still, you’d hoped she would at least text you if she was running late.
>You flexed your feet to stave away the growing ache in them.
>...
>...
>Maybe she was in an accident?
>Another half hour had passed before your dad offered for you to come back inside and wait for her with a drink.
>You sat at the dining table from an angle that gave you a full view of the kitchen window into the front.
>You sigh wistfully as you watched the empty street continue to darken as the sun fell as low as your hopes.
>Suddenly your phone rattled over the table, and your heart skipped a beat at the noise.
>Even before it finished its buzzing, the phone was already in your hand as you frantically swiped the screen open.
>It was a text.
>From Sonata.
>You can’t help but sweat and tremble as you opened your phone and tapped the text message open.
>”Forgot to pick u up LOL! u really think id go 2 prom with u??? Chile!”
>Another notification popped up into view, alerting you of a snapchat you received.
>Also from Sonata.
>You opened the app and tapped her picture open.
>Pic related.
>Another text is sent after the photo.
>”Soz not soz!! LOL stay mad simp”
>...
>The phone slid out of your hand onto the tabletop as you tried to comprehend what just happened.
>This was a prank all along?
>Two months of spending time with you at school, eating lunch, doing homework together, flirtatious gestures and texts; all for a prank?
>Confusion, disappointment, doubt filled your mind.
>But at the same time, your brain signals a slight sliver of relief.
>At least you were spared a night of having to deal with being in a loud, cramped room filled with teens trying to hide the fact that they drank beforehand.
>Honestly, you were kind of impressed at the dedication.
>From the short time you’d known her, she came off as a bit of a ditz.
>Pulling something like this must have taken some patience.
>With a heavy sigh you rose from your seat at the table, kicked your dress shoes off and headed back to your room.
>You would have preferred to have gone with her purple sister anyway.