The space is packed, the air thick with the scent of cheap cologne and hairspray.

The overhead lights flash in a kaleidoscope of colors, casting a hazy glow over the mismatched decorations hanging from the rafters.

It smells like sweat and cinnamon, like school dances always do, but tonight, there’s something different in the air.

Maybe it’s the way Luna is looking at me—like we’re already in our own world, even here, surrounded by a hundred other people.

I squeeze her hand, feeling the pulse of her fingers against mine.

"You ready for this?" I ask, raising an eyebrow as I glance at the neon sign that reads Prom Night.

The words are all kinds of cheesy, but I can’t stop grinning.

Luna’s wearing a deep green dress with satin material that catches the light in all the right ways. It hugs her body perfectly, and I can’t stop staring at how it moves like it was made just for her.

The open back, the straps that crisscross over her shoulders... It’s stunning. Her hair’s up in a messy bun, with a few curls hanging loose in front of her face.

There’s a bit of blush on her cheeks, just enough to make her look soft in the dimmed lights, and the lipstick is the cherry red —bold, confident.

She looks perfect, but she’s not the one who’s nervous. That’s all me.

I glance down at my own outfit. The black dress is a bit on the shorter side, flaring out at the waist, which I love because it makes me feel like I’m in control, even when I feel like I’m about to lose it.

My heels are higher than I’m used to, and I’m sure I’m going to regret them later, but for now, they give me this sense of confidence that matches the black eyeliner I’ve carefully applied.

The one thing I know how to do tonight is look sharp.

But Luna, she makes me feel so just by being next to me. The way she’s holding my hand, her skin warm against mine, her smile soft.

"You’re staring again," she teases, a quiet laugh escaping her lips as she nudges me with her elbow.

"Am not," I deny, though I can’t wipe the stupid grin off my face. "It's not my fault my date it hot."

"Yeah, well," she looks me up and down, her eyes lingering longer than necessary, "You looks super hot I wanna rip that dress off you and suck you skin."

"Shut up," I laugh, tugging her a little closer. "We should go inside."

She hesitates for a second, and I can tell she’s about to back out.

But I’m not letting that happen tonight.

I lead her toward the crowd of people, all gathered around the punch table or lining the walls, trying to get the best view of the dance floor.

Sarah and Meg wave us over, their faces lighting up when they see us. Meg’s in a red dress that falls in soft folds over her curves, and Sarah’s in a long gold gown that matches the twinkle in her eyes.

When they see us holding hands, it’s like they know before we even do. A few seconds later, Mia, appears out of nowhere, wrapping her arms around Luna in a tight hug.

"You two look incredible!" Mia says. "You guys are fuckin' hot."

I feel my face go hot. The whole group is surrounding us, grinning like they’ve been waiting for this moment.

Luna squeezes my hand, but she looks a little unsure, probably because she hasn’t expected this much attention.

She’s still the Luna I know, the one who’s afraid of being in the spotlight. But she’s here. She’s with me, and that’s all that matters.

The music picks up, and the beat of a slow song starts to pulse through the speakers. The crowd moves to the rhythm of it, and before I can even think about it, I pull Luna toward the floor.

She gives me a look, half playful, half panicked. "What are we doing?"

"Come on," I tease, "Let’s do this."

I put my hands on her waist, and she wraps hers around my neck. The heat between us is enough to make my heart stutter in my chest.

For a moment, I can’t even hear the music. All I can hear is the soft rhythm of her breath, her heart, the way she shifts just slightly to press her body against mine.

It’s quiet here, just us, in this little bubble away from everything else.

I almost forget to keep moving when she starts to sway with me, her body following mine as if we’ve done this a thousand times before.

It’s awkward at first, I’m not going to lie. I’m a little too tense, and I know she’s probably more nervous than she’s letting on. But soon enough, the awkwardness fades, and we find a rhythm—our rhythm.

I rest my chin on her shoulder, and she leans her head against mine, her fingers curling lightly into my skin.

"See?" I whisper, "Not so bad."

She laughs softly. "This is insane."

But I can tell she’s enjoying herself. She’s relaxed now, her grip on me loosening as we drift through the song, letting the music carry us.

The next song kicks in, a faster beat, and the group starts pulling us in different directions. Mia drags us over to the group, and before I know it, I’m spinning Luna around.

She stumbles a bit, but the laugh that escapes her lips makes it all worth it.

"You okay?" I ask, breathless, my hands still holding her tight.

"Yeah," she says, grinning from ear to ear. "I’m perfect."

And that’s the thing about tonight. We’re not perfect—none of us are—but we’re here, together, living in this moment.

There are no guarantees about the future, no promises that everything’s going to stay the same.

I know that, I’ve always known that. But for now, right here with the loud music and our friends around us, nothing else matters.

We dance, laughing and shouting over the music, taking silly pictures that I know we’ll look back on someday.

Meg and Sarah pose with ridiculous expressions, Mia pulls Luna into a group shot with me, and before long, we’re all in one photo, packed together in a huddle of faces and smiles.

I can already tell that it’s going to be one of those photos we keep forever.

When the song slows down again, Luna steps close, pulling me to the side of the dance floor.

"You’re right," she says quietly, her voice almost drowned out by the music. "This wasn’t so bad."

I wrap my arms around her, resting my head against hers, and for a moment, it feels like the world has stopped moving.

I don’t know what comes next for us—whether we stay in this town or take off for the city, whether we’re together forever or this moment is just one fleeting piece of time—but right now, I don't care.

Right now, I’m here with her. And it's all I need.

"We’re going to be fine," I whisper, more to myself than to her.

Luna pulls back, her eyes searching mine.

She’s smiling, her lips soft against mine. "Yeah," she agrees. "We are."

The music plays on, but it feels like we’re the only two people in the room.