All I Want For Christmas Is You

Ten

The muffled music of the gymnasium echoed faintly in the quiet hallway as I hurried toward the restroom. My heels clicked softly on the tiled floor, contrasting with the distant hum of laughter and chatter behind me. I could see students posing for photos, their faces alight with joy as they captured memories that would last a lifetime.

I tried to ignore the pang of loneliness in my chest. Tonight, it seemed everyone had someone—friends, dates, people to share the magic of the evening with. Everyone but me. I slipped into the bathroom, finding solace in the quiet as I locked myself inside a stall and sat on the closed toilet seat.

I already had my phone in my hand, so I dialed Roy, her father’s friend. She waited, tapping her fingers nervously on her thigh, but the call went straight to voicemail. My stomach sank. I tried again, but the result was the same.

I sighed, leaning my head back against the stall door. My father had insisted I go tonight, convinced that prom was something i’d regret missing. Yet here I was, alone in a bathroom, feeling like an outsider in a world I didn’t belong to.

Maybe i’d have better luck calling Roy outside. Standing, I adjusted my dress, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the stall. I looked in the mirror, the smoky eyeshadow making my honey-brown eyes stand out even as they reflected the frustration I felt.

With one final glance, I left the restroom and headed back toward the gymnasium to get my clutch I just realised has left on the table after taking my phone from it.

The hallway was still abuzz with life as i made my way through it. Couples leaned against lockers kissing, whispering and laughing. Groups of friends posed for photos in front of hastily decorated backdrops. I weaved through the crowd, keeping my head down, my thoughts preoccupied.

As she entered the gymnasium, my eyes scanned the tables. The one I had been sitting at earlier was empty, just as I had left it. But my clutch, the small bag containing my essentials, was left were I had put it.

Before I could sigh in relief, I felt a sudden, solid impact I stumbled back slightly, the world spinning for a moment before I realized what had happened.

“Whoa, sorry about that,” a deep voice said, steadying my by the arm.

My heart nearly stopped as I looked up to see Adrian Barfield standing in front of me. He was close enough that I could smell the faint scent of cologne and punch on him. His sandy-brown hair was slightly tousled, his blue eyes bright under the dim lighting of the gym.

I froze, my brain struggling to process what was happening. Adrian was speaking to me. Adrian, the boy i’d admired from afar for years, was touching my arm and looking directly at me.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his brows furrowed slightly.

“Y-yeah,” I stammered, stepping back quickly, my cheeks burning.

Adrian chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Good. Would’ve hated to ruin your night. By the way, you have beautiful eyes.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. Beautiful eyes? Was he talking to me? Surely he had mistaken me for someone else.

I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to see another girl behind ne, but there was no one. Oh my gosh he was really talking to me.

He laughed again, a rich sound that made my stomach flip. “You’re cute,” he said, his tone teasing yet sincere.

My breath caught in my throat. Cute? I didn’t know how to respond, so i didn’t.

Adrian’s smile widened as he reached out, taking my hand in his. “Come on,” he said. “I need a break from the crowd. You look like someone who could use one too.”

Before I could protest or even fully comprehend what was happening, he began leading me out of the gym.

My feet moved on autopilot as Adrian guided me down the hallway. The warmth of his hand around mine sent electricity coursing through my body, a sensation I couldn’t remember ever feeling before.

I tried to form words, to ask him what he was doing or why he had chosen me, but the questions caught in my throat. I couldn't believe this was really happening.