I watched her through the school window. Christine was a beautiful girl. The way she smiled could melt an ice cap, and she always smelled like coconut body lotion. The more I saw her, the more I wanted to see her. Sometimes I followed her through town, other times watched her through windows. It was hard for me to not do it.

When I was alone, I thought about the day we would meet. Giddiness turned to impatience. The longer I stayed a stranger, the more frustrated I got. I couldn’t put it off any longer. We were going to meet, I would make sure of that.

Haunting her steps, I followed her into the highschool today. Today would be my day. Christine would finally know who I was and what I wanted to do with her. I waited for the final bell of the day to send everyone streaming out of their classrooms and out of the school. As soon as it rang, I leapt into action and hid by the main door. Peering around the hallway corner, I waited for her to approach.

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Students streamed past me, not paying attention. It felt like my heart was beating out of my chest. I’d never asked out an upperclassman before. Sure, I was only one grade below Christine but...I shook my head. I was going to ask her to prom if it was the last thing I did.

Before I collected my thoughts, she rounded the corner, almost walking right into me. I froze. She smiled politely and walked around me with her friends, towards the door. “Christine!” I called. She turned. “I-I, uh...would you go to the prom with me?” I blurted out.

Smiling awkwardly, Christine looked around at her friends who began giggling. “I’m sorry, what’s your name?” I hurried down the hall in the other direction, my face flushed red. It was alright, I didn’t need to go to prom. I could just die of embarrassment instead.