Prom season hung like a heavy cloud over Eastbridge High. For Paul Landon, however, the excitement felt more like pressure. The countdown had begun, and there was barely a week left before prom night. Everyone around him seemed to have made plans, pairing up with dates, showing off their outfits in whispered corners of the hallways, or gossiping about who was going with whom.
Everyone but him.
Paul sat in the cafeteria with a tray of untouched food in front of him, staring blankly at the chatter around. Jacob plopped into the seat opposite him, looking as though he had just come from practice, hair damp and shirt slightly creased.
“You’re zoning out,” Jacob said casually, stealing a fry from Paul’s tray. “What’s up with you?”
Paul shrugged, running a hand through his hair. “Prom. It’s
