HE LOVED ME LAST

Chapter 57

Alice’s POV

The day before prom.

The whole school was buzzing. Girls whispered about dresses and makeup; boys tried to act indifferent, but even they were talking about suits and after-parties. It was loud and chaotic and bright.

But not for me.

Inside, everything felt muted.

I watched students decorate the hall after school—gold banners, balloons, shimmering lights. It should’ve been exciting. It *was* exciting. For everyone else.

Noah was sweet. Always checking in. He’d already sent me pictures of the tux he’d rented, even joked about dancing like a penguin.

I laughed. I did. But there was this part of me that kept glancing across the room.

Lucas.

He didn’t speak to me. Didn’t even look at me anymore.

But I saw him, too.

Helping tape up lights without speaking much. Focused, quiet. He laughed once—at something Henry said—and for some reason, that laugh felt like a punch to my chest.

Because it wasn’t mine.

He wasn’t *mine*.

Not that he ever was.

We had a moment—several, maybe—but I shut it down. I thought it was the right thing. The smart thing.

Then why did it feel like I was the one left behind?

I stayed late to help clean the art corner for prom photo props. Just as I stepped out of the classroom, arms full of sketch boards, I saw him in the hallway.

Lucas.

Alone.

We made eye contact. My breath caught.

He didn’t smile. Didn’t look away either.

He just… nodded.

I nodded back.

And we both kept walking.

Past each other.

No words.

No sounds.

Just two people heading in opposite directions.

Pretending tomorrow wouldn’t hurt.

I didn’t sleep much that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, my mind wandered. Not to the dress I was supposed to wear, or the songs they’d play at prom, or even the nerves that came with big events.

No. My mind went to *him.*

Lucas.

His silence.

His eyes when he passed me in the hallway—like he wanted to say something… but didn’t.

And maybe I wanted him to.

Maybe, deep down, I hoped he’d pull me aside, ask if I was okay. If I was still angry. If I missed him like I *knew* I missed him.

But he didn’t.

So I stared at my ceiling, replaying every step of how we got here.

The teasing.

The rivalry.

The little moments in the library. The accidental touches. The arguments that turned into something softer—something real.

And the moment I ruined it all.

I told him I didn’t want to be friends.

That we couldn’t be anything.

And now I was going to prom with Noah.

While he’d be with Amelia.

The thought made my stomach twist. Not because I didn’t like Noah—he was a good guy. But he wasn’t the one who made my heart race just by existing in the same room.

That was Lucas.

But maybe some things just… weren’t meant to happen.

Maybe fate wasn’t enough.

Still, as I drifted into sleep, one final thought slipped through my mind, quiet and stubborn:

*I hope he notices me tomorrow.*

Even if I pretend I don’t notice him.