I’ve known Jake since elementary school. I remember seeing him sitting at a lunch table on his own, and feeling sorry for him, I left my own table to join him. I remember the look on his face when he saw that he wasn’t alone anymore. I remember asking my mom to pack me a second set of chocolate chip cookies because he really liked them—he loved them, actually—and I wanted to make him happy.

In middle school, things changed. He started being noticed by the other girls. He was growing into a man; he captured other peoples’ attention with his shaggy blond locks and baby blue eyes. I remember the first time he moved up in the social ladder. I was sitting at our usual table, waiting for him to arrive so we could go about switching and trading whatever lunch our parents had packed for us that day. Apple slices for carrots. Chocolate chip cookies for raisin ones. It had become our thing. I saw him enter through the cafeteria doors and my heart immediately began to beat faster. It always happened when Jake was around. I watched him walk in my direction, watched him smile when he noticed me. He was closing the distance between us when Janice Walcott got in his way—when she got in our way.

From that moment on, our table wasn’t cool enough for him anymore. It stopped being our table. It was just mine. He sat with Janice and her friends. Eventually, her friends became their friends and my Jake became her Jacob. It wasn’t until a few months ago that he first approached me again. The rumor was that Janice had cheated on him, so he ended it. The halls were reeling with the news that Mills High’s power couple had split. Guys were lining up to ask Janice out, and girls had never really stopped trying to get their claws into Jacob when Janice wasn’t watching.

“Hey.” That was what he said after joining me at my table again for the first time in years—the first time someone else had sat at my table with me. That was all I needed him to say for us to return to the place we were at before everything…before Janice.

For three months he sat with me every day. Three weeks ago he asked me to prom.

I said yes.

“You look so pretty,” my momma says the moment she sees me coming down the stairs.

“Oh mom, it’s your job to say that,” I tell her as I reach the final step.

“It is, but it’s true. You’re going to be the prettiest girl at the ball.”

“It’s Junior Prom, mom, not A Cinderella Story,” I tell her, though it might as well be one.

I still can’t believe Jake asked me out. Not even in my dreams would a guy like him look my way, especially with all the other girls pining over him. I can’t believe he chose me.

“When’s your date coming?” Momma asks, the camera already hanging from her neck, ready to take photos of her baby girl.

“I’m meeting him there,” I answer. Her mouth opens with what I know will be a follow up question, and I brace myself to give an answer she won’t be thrilled with.

“Isn’t it tradition for the guy to pick up the girl? Or am I stuck in the past?”

I shrug. “They still do that, but he had something important to do today so he asked me to meet him there.” She looks at me skeptically, but I assure her, “It’ll be okay, mom. I’ll just drive myself.”

“I can drive you if you want.”

“I think that may be worse than showing up on my own.” I say, laughing as my mother joins me at the bottom of the stairs.

“Bummer! I won’t be getting pictures of you both together.”

I run my fingers through my hair, making sure it’s smooth enough. “I’ll make sure I get you a copy of the one we take when we walk in.”

“Okay, but in the meantime, I won’t let this camera go to waste. Go ahead, strike some poses, Dimah.”

I decide to give my mother what she wants and pretend to be a runway model. Today, I’m feeling confident. Which makes perfect sense, because when the hottest guy—a senior football player—asks you to accompany him to prom, you can’t help but get some pep in your step. Little old me, the envy of all the other girls.

A few dozen photographs later, I give my mom a kiss goodbye and head to my car. The rules are simple: no drinking, no driving, and no sex. But we all know what happens at prom, and if Jake asks, I’m not sure I’ll say no. Who could say no to a tall, muscular, handsome man with baby blue eyes and blonde locks like Jake’s? Certainly no one else would. So why should I?

Driving to Mills High takes a few minutes and after parking my car in the student lot, I give myself a once-over in the mirror. Looking back at me is the most basic girl you’ve ever seen: brown hair, brown eyes, brown skin—nothing special. But I guess I must be somewhat special to get a boy like Jake to look my way, don’t I? I reapply my lipstick, open the door, and get out.