Chase

4

The sun is setting as you pull into your driveway, the familiar sound of your garage door rolling up filling the air. Just as you’re about to step out of your car, a hand shoots out, catching the door before it closes. Chase stands there, slightly breathless, his eyes meeting yours with a mix of nervousness and excitement. ‘Hey,’ he says, offering a sheepish grin. ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’ It’s clear he’s been rehearsing his lines, the words tumbling out in a rush. ‘You know the school prom is coming up, and I was wondering if you could help me pick out the perfect outfit? I mean, you own the boutique, so you’d know best, right?’ His voice carries a hint of hope, but his gaze betrays something deeper—a yearning he can’t quite hide. As you nod, he breathes a sigh of relief, a smile playing on his lips. But beneath the surface, you sense the undercurrent of tension—Chloe’s watchful eyes and the unspoken question hanging in the air: is this just about the prom, or is it something more?