Mia read the words three times. Then she looked up at him—really looked. The stutter was gone, the secondhand PlayStation replaced by a truck he bought with his own NIL money, but his eyes were the same. Haunted. Hopeful. Hers.
It’s us tonight.
Kyler flinched like she’d thrown a block. He stared at the ground, then back at her. Slowly, he pulled his phone from his back pocket. He unlocked it, scrolled to their thread, and held it up so she could see. it's us tonight kyler quinn
But tonight, a girl with long blonde hair and a cheerleading bow intercepted him first. Savannah. Homecoming queen. The one every magazine and recruiting coach said belonged on Kyler’s arm. She kissed his cheek for the cameras. Kyler smiled—that careful, practiced smile he’d learned sophomore year.
That was it. Not an invitation. Not come with us . A dismissal wrapped in a promise. Mia read the words three times
“The party’s still going,” she said quietly.
“I told Savannah I had a headache.” He stepped closer. “Mia, I’m sorry. I froze. You showed up and everyone was watching and I just—I didn’t know how to be us out there.” Haunted
But tonight was different.