Finally, Noah stopped.
“Mrs. Jane.”
Mom looked at him innocently.
“What?”
“Chrissy dances better.”
Mom nodded.
“That is exactly why she’s your date.”
Then her smile faded into something gentler.
She looked directly at him.
“Thank you for staying.”
Noah blinked.
He looked genuinely confused, as if she’d thanked him for breathing.
Then he glanced at me.
“She stays too.”
Mom closed her eyes for a moment.
I knew immediately what those three words had done to her.
For years, she had believed the friendship moved mostly in one direction.
That Noah needed me.
That I protected him.
That I included him.
But Noah had never seen our friendship that way.
Neither had I.
We stayed for each other.
That was all.
Part 5 — Twelve Years Later
When Noah and I finally arrived at prom, the gym had been transformed with lights, fabric, flowers, and decorations that were clearly trying very hard to make us forget we were still standing inside a school.
Noah approved.
“Very fancy.”
“You’ve been waiting twelve years. Was it worth it?”
He looked around thoughtfully.
“Ask me after food.”
Naturally.
