He’s in a perfectly fitted navy blue suit with a lavender pocket square that matches my dress. His hair is combed back for once, and he looks so well put-together it’s hard to believe I ever thought he was some kind of delinquent.

I’m wearing a traditionally South Asian outfit, more beautiful than any prom dress could ever hope to be. It’s a floor length cream-colored anarkali suit with beautiful floral patterns in the navy blue of Ace’s suit. It swishes with every step I take and flows when I spin. My dupatta keeps falling off my shoulders, but Ace catches it before it slips every time.

It was hard to convince my parents to actually let me go to junior prom with Nandini and Cora, but they relented after Cora’s parents promised to pick us up and drop us off. I neglected to mention the brief visit to Ace’s house to pick up our dates, but that’s neither here nor there.

I still can’t believe we’re going together. I still can’t believe I somehow survived the last two months. It’s the second week of June and Regents are next week, but I have no doubt Ace is going to kill it. I have more faith in him than I have in almost anything else.

My fingers keep fluttering around Ace’s neck. I can’t help bouncing on my toes and making circles around him to ensure nothing is out of place.

Junior prom is something I thought I’d never have, so just being here in and of itself feels like a victory. But I’m also afraid someone is going to pull the rug out from underneath me any second.

Ace takes my hands in his, rooting me in place. “Hey. We don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I can go outside and tell Nandini and Cora to fuck off. I don’t mind being the bad guy.”

I smile at him, a fraction of my nerves easing. “You could never be the bad guy.”

He snorts and laces our fingers together. “I’m serious. If you want, we can stay in and watch Netflix.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. I won’t admit defeat that easily. “I want to go. I’m just...nervous. I don’t know why. I can’t explain it.”

My anxiety has been better in the last few months as I’ve learned better coping mechanisms. I still rely on the countdown the most—I think I always will—but I’m growing and learning and doing better every day.

It’s just...this is junior prom. I’m here. I’m going.

And I’m nervous.

“Don’t be,” he says, squeezing my hands. “I won’t leave your side all night. No matter what happens, I’ll be here with you.”