The Camp Prom was in full swing, fairy lights twinkling overhead as students swirled around the dance floor. E.J. Caswell, despite his lanky frame and lack of rhythm, had decided to take a leap of faith. He wanted to dance with Gina Porter, the girl who made his heart race every time she smiled.
Gina was a dancer—a graceful, ethereal creature who seemed to glide through life effortlessly. E.J., on the other hand, had two left feet and a tendency to trip over his own shoelaces. But he didn't care. He wanted to be close to Gina, even if it meant embarrassing himself in front of the entire camp.
So, he squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and approached her. "Gina," he said, his voice cracking just a little. "Would you like to dance?"
Gina's eyes widened in surprise. "E.J., are you sure? You know I love dancing."
He nodded, his heart pounding. "I want to dance with you. Even if I'm terrible at it."
She laughed, a soft, melodic sound that made his insides flutter. "Okay, then. Let's dance."
And so they did. E.J. stepped on her toes more times than he could count, but Gina just grinned and twirled him around. "You're not so bad," she teased. "For a beginner."
E.J. blushed. "I've been practicing," he admitted. "With Val."
"Val?" Gina raised an eyebrow. "Your childhood friend?"
He nodded. "Yeah. She's been teaching me how to slow dance. I wanted to be able to keep up with you."
Gina's expression softened. "That's sweet, E.J."
As the music swirled around them, E.J. gathered his courage. "Gina," he said, looking into her eyes. "There's something I need to tell you."
She tilted her head, waiting.
"I'm in love with you," he blurted out. "I have been for a long time. And I wanted to dance with you tonight because I couldn't wait any longer."
Gina's smile was radiant. "E.J., I—"
But he didn't let her finish. He leaned down and kissed her, right there on the dance floor, surrounded by fairy lights and the soft strains of a love song. And in that moment, E.J. knew he'd made the right choice. He might not be the best dancer, but he was the luckiest guy at Camp Prom.
