A few weeks later, the high school held its annual winter formal. It was the kind of event that Lucy loved—dressing up, dancing, and spending time with friends. Tim, on the other hand, wasn't sure what to expect. He wasn't exactly the type to enjoy dances, but when Lucy asked him to go with her, he couldn't say no.
The night of the dance, Lucy arrived at Tim's house to pick him up. Tim had insisted on meeting her at the dance, but Lucy was having none of it. She wanted to do this right, and that meant showing up at his door with a smile and a corsage.
When Tim opened the door, Lucy's breath caught in her throat. He looked incredible in his suit, his broad shoulders filling it out perfectly. But what really took her breath away was the way he looked at her, his eyes soft and full of something she couldn't quite name.
"You look amazing," Tim said, his voice full of awe.
Lucy blushed, smoothing down the skirt of her dress. "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself."
Tim smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that made Lucy's heart skip a beat. "Ready to go?"
Lucy nodded, holding out the corsage. "But first, this is for you."
Tim looked at the small white flower in her hand, surprised. "I thought I was supposed to get you one."
Lucy grinned, taking his hand and slipping the corsage onto his wrist. "You are. But I wanted to get you something too."
Tim looked down at the flower, a lump forming in his throat. No one had ever done something like this for him before. "Thank you, Lucy. Really."
She smiled up at him, her eyes shining with affection. "You're welcome. Now, let's go have some fun."
The dance was everything Lucy had hoped it would be. The gym was decorated with twinkling lights and streamers, and the music was loud and energetic. Tim was a bit stiff at first, clearly out of his element, but Lucy was patient, guiding him onto the dance floor and encouraging him to let loose.
As the night went on, Tim found himself relaxing, enjoying the feel of Lucy's hand in his, the sound of her laughter, and the warmth of her smile. For the first time in a long time, he felt like a normal teenager, just a boy having fun with his girlfriend.
When a slow song came on, Lucy wrapped her arms around Tim's neck, swaying gently to the music. Tim held her close, resting his cheek against her hair. The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble.
"Thank you for coming with me tonight," Lucy whispered, her voice full of emotion.
Tim smiled, tightening his hold on her. "I should be thanking you. I've never had a night like this before."
Lucy pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes. "I'm glad you're here with me, Tim. You deserve to have nights like this. You deserve to be happy."
Tim felt a surge of emotion at her words, his heart swelling with gratitude and something deeper, something he hadn't felt in a long time—hope. "I'm happy when I'm with you, Lucy. You make everything better."
Lucy's eyes filled with tears, and she reached up to gently touch his cheek. "I feel the same way, Tim. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Tim leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Lucy smiled through her tears, her heart full to bursting. "You'll never have to find out."
