It was another typical day in the gym, and Sam, captain of the basketball team, was lounging around with his teammates when he made a surprising statement.

“Honestly, why would anyone want to dance with a girl? And why even have a prom?” Sam grumbled, stretching his arms.

Patrick, one of his teammates, nearly choked on his water. “Wait, Captain, are you saying girls aren’t… exciting enough for you? Or are you just scared of a little competition?”

Sam rolled his eyes, and Patrick continued with a smirk, “You know, prom’s like a one-on-one basketball game. Three rounds of layups—get lucky once, and maybe you’ll get a second shot.”

Adam chimed in, shaking his head, “Knock it off, Patrick. Captain Sam could get a date in a second if he wanted. No need to act like he’s desperate.”

Sam cut in with a sigh, “Look, Adam’s right, and so are you, Patrick. We’re the most popular guys in school. We can’t just go solo to prom. We need to find some dates.”

The whole gang burst out laughing. “Oh, so you’re only looking for a dance partner?” one of them teased. “No kisses on the agenda?”

Sam blushed, holding up his hands. “Okay, knock it off, guys! Our game plan is simple: find a date, enjoy prom, and keep our grades up. That way, we won’t need to rely on our charm alone.”

The bell rang, and everyone headed to class. As Sam walked in, a chorus of girls greeted him with “Good morning, Sam!” He gave a polite nod and replied, “Ladies, sorry, but I need a bit of space.”

The girls practically swooned, giggling to each other about how polite he was for apologizing.

A few moments later, the teacher entered. “Class, please welcome Ms. Rose. She’ll be joining us starting today.”

Sam was busy rummaging through his bag and didn’t notice the new student until she approached her seat, right in front of him. The class was usually arranged so no girl got that close to him—a curious arrangement many of the girls seemed to resent instantly.

“Excuse me,” Rose said firmly. “Your bag’s caught on my chair.”

Sam’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of her voice. When he looked up, he was met with her fierce gaze. “Are you deaf? I said, get your bag off my desk!”

Shocked, Sam quickly moved his bag, his eyes locked on Rose for the rest of class, captivated by her confidence and blunt attitude. She was stunning, and nobody had ever spoken to him like that before.

As the bell rang, Rose headed to the library. Sam, still in a trance, decided to follow her. He watched from a distance as she chatted with one of his friends, John—a top academic rival but also an unexpected ally. Sam watched as John handed Rose a piece of paper, and she smiled, whispering a quick “Thank you.”

Enraged, Sam stomped over. “What’s that smile about?” he demanded.

John grinned, clearly amused. “Oh, someone’s got a crush,” he teased. “Relax, Sam. I actually like her—like, as in more than just a date to prom.”

“Pfft!” Sam scoffed. “I don’t need her to be my life partner. I just need a date for the prom. But you’re not getting in the way.”

John laughed. “Good luck with that. All you’ve done is stare. At least I’ve actually talked to her.”

Determined, Sam headed home. Later that evening, he shared his predicament with his best friend, Rupert. “I think I’m falling for her,” he admitted.

Rupert snorted, “Falling? Dude, you barely know her!”

“Shut up, Rup,” Sam muttered, throwing a pillow at him.

The next day, Sam was set on “investigating” Rose’s connection with John. Rupert tagged along, equally curious. They found themselves at a local barbecue joint, ready to strategize, when Rupert nudged him.

“Look, Sam. Over there.”

Sam turned to see Rose and John, laughing together across the restaurant. He nearly crushed his milkshake cup in frustration. Rose got up to leave, and Sam immediately followed her, Rupert trailing behind in amusement.

When they reached her house, Rose turned around, visibly annoyed. “What is your problem? First, you’re deaf, and now you’re stalking me?”

Sam barely heard her. He was too focused on her lips, still smiling from whatever John had said. Without another thought, he stepped forward, took her by the shoulders, and kissed her.

Nearby, Rupert hid behind a bush, watching the scene with wide eyes. He muttered to himself, “This is either going to end very well or very badly.”

Rose pulled away, her face flushed. “I… hate you!” she sputtered, running inside.

Sam just grinned. Rupert emerged, patting him on the back. “Nice move, Romeo,” he joked. “But let’s hope you survive till prom.”

Both of them laughed, leaving Sam with a bit more confidence and a brand-new challenge: winning over Rose for real.

Sarah Samuels had fallen for John a long time ago but never had the courage to ask him out. She wanted to, but she was usually too nervous, and when she did manage to gather her courage, she never got the chance. She often saw John talking to another girl, Rose, which worried her. But this time, with the prom approaching, she resolved to ask him out no matter what. She didn’t want to be the girl who missed prom—she had always dreamed of dancing with John.

Sarah had two sisters: Maddie, who was in middle school and had already found the boy of her dreams, and Agnes. “Sarah, you're in high school, and you still haven’t asked John out?” teased Maddie.

“Shut up, Maddie! Mind your own business and stop annoying me!” Sarah shot back, frustrated.

Sarah was determined this time; she would finally ask John out.

Meanwhile, Ms. Roberts had arranged lab partners for the entire second-year class, pairing Rose with Sam. Rose was initially shocked to find herself partnered with Sam. Sam approached her with a smirk, saying, “How was my kiss?”

Rose initially responded with “ugh!” but then, remembering the kiss, she blushed.

“Oh, looks like you’re falling for me,” Sam teased.

“There’s no way I would ever fall for you,” Rose retorted, flustered.

After their lab period, it was lunch. “Let’s have lunch together, Rose,” Sam said with a grin.

“Obviously not. Just leave—I don’t want to see your face. Stop following me, Sam!” she replied, irritated.

But Sam persisted, sitting across from her with his meal. “How about a deal?” he proposed.

“What kind of deal?” Rose asked, slightly intrigued.

“If I make you fall for me, you have to be my girlfriend,” Sam said confidently.

“And if you lose?” Rose countered.

“I won’t lose,” Sam replied smugly.

“Tough luck,” Rose muttered. “Let’s see how you plan to do that.”

Sam shrugged, still smirking. “So, what are you doing after school?” he asked.

“None of your business,” Rose replied. “You said you’d make me fall for you, so figure it out yourself.”

Elsewhere, Rupert was preparing to meet his friend Julia, who was waiting for him at a theme park. They enjoyed the rides together, but Rupert remembered his friend Sam’s interest in Rose and decided to ask Julia about her since they were close.

At around 1 p.m., they paused for lunch. Rupert casually brought up Rose, asking Julia, “Is Rose your best friend?”

“Yeah, she is. We share everything, though she’s been a bit distant lately. I wonder why she doesn’t share as much anymore,” Julia responded.

“Tell me more about your friendship with Rose,” Rupert pressed.

“Sure,” Julia began. “We met in middle school. Rose is incredibly talented—she’s great at drawing, writing, singing. Her parents, though, never gave her a real chance to pursue her passions. When she was 13, she joined a computer course for JAVA, hoping to master it for her future. I was the only other person her age in the course. Middle schoolers rarely think about careers at 13, so we were pretty much on our own.”

“We both excelled in the course and earned a certificate. One day, Rose told me she wanted to make a music video, but she couldn’t do it at home because her parents wouldn’t allow it. So, she used my place. She sang like a pop star and decided she wanted to pursue a career in music, even though it would be a tough journey. Her video on YouTube only got about 200-300 views, so she told me she needed a vocal coach. That’s where John came in.”

“John?” Rupert asked, interested.

“Yes. He’s a pro at making videos and already has 2.5 million views on YouTube. He wants to start a branding business with Amazon, so he’s taking courses to prepare. He knows his way around instruments and sings really well. Rose was thrilled to have him as her teacher, and she relies on him a lot.”

“So, she’s not interested in relationships?” Rupert asked.

“No, her focus is on becoming a pop star. Though I think John might have a crush on her, I doubt she’ll reciprocate,” Julia admitted.

“Good,” Rupert replied, smirking. “My friend Sam’s interested in her. He’d do anything to make her his girlfriend.”

“Sam? I didn’t think he was interested in girls!” Julia laughed.

“Neither did I, but he’s serious about her. Could you keep me updated about Rose?” Rupert asked.

“Sure,” Julia agreed. After a while, they decided it was time to head home.

The next morning, Julia arrived at school early, hoping to gather some information about Rose. She found Rose writing something in class and asked, “Hey, Rose! What are you writing?”

Rose quickly hid the paper, saying, “Oh, nothing, just jotting down some notes.”

Julia smirked. “I know—it’s a love letter for Sam!”

Rose rolled her eyes. “It’s not a love letter. It’s just a set of rules for him, that’s all.”

At that moment, Sam approached. Julia left, saying, “I’ll leave you two alone.”

“Yes, these rules are for you,” Rose said to Sam.

“As you wish, princess,” he replied with a smirk.

Later, at lunch, Sam asked, “Why did you tell me not to touch you? This is ridiculous!”

“Oh, so you’re giving up already?” Rose asked, smiling slyly.

Her teasing made Sam angry. He grabbed her and kissed her in front of the entire cafeteria. Furious, Rose stormed out, leaving her lunch behind. John, concerned, grabbed her lunch and followed her outside, finding her crying under a tree.

“Hey, it’s alright,” John said gently, offering her a chocolate. She took it, and gradually, she started feeling better.

Sam, seeing John and Rose together, grew even more upset.

Realizing he had gone too far, Sam decided he needed to apologize. He made a dress for Rose—he was skilled at tailoring—and wrote a heartfelt letter. He wanted to meet her on Sunday to apologize properly. Rose told Julia about Sam’s gesture, and Julia encouraged her to go. “It’s just an apology,” Julia said. “Don’t be too harsh on him.”

“Fine, if you say so,” Rose agreed.

Rupert texted Julia to confirm Rose was going, and Julia assured him that she was. Rupert relayed the news to Sam, who was ecstatic.

“I’m so happy!” Sam exclaimed, jumping with joy.

Rupert laughed, patting his friend on the back. “Don’t worry, Sam. I’ve got your back. Just, please, don’t get this excited around me—I’m not Rose!”

They both laughed, and Sam, lying on his bed that night, thought, “She will be my wife someday, and that’s never going to change.”

"Finally, I made it! My dress is finished," Sarah said with excitement. "All I have to do now is call John and ask him out. Oh! I almost forgot—I need to buy accessories to go with my dress." Sarah was quite the designer; she knew how to make dresses and even created ones for her little sisters. It was as if she was a hidden princess behind her spectacles. "I think I know just the store for accessories!" she thought. "Yay! Okay, I'd better finish breakfast. Ooh, I can't wait to call him."

Sarah went downstairs and quickly ate her breakfast. Maddie noticed and joked, "Slow down, piggy!" then laughed. Sarah didn’t mind—she was in too good of a mood to let it bother her. She called out, "Mom, I'm done! I'm heading out. Let me know if you need anything; I can pick it up on the way."

Her mom smiled and said, "Enjoy, sweetheart. I’m a bit tied up with my schedule, so have fun." Sarah smiled back, saying, "Okay, bye, Dad! Bye, Mom!" They both replied, "Bye, dear."

"Wow, it's only Saturday, and look at all the people!" Rose commented to Julia. "Well, this shop is famous for accessories, so it’s bound to be crowded," Sarah replied happily. "Let’s find some accessories!"

"Okay!" said Rose, and they began looking. While everything was nice, nothing seemed to catch Rose’s eye until she spotted a set she liked. "Wow, pretty!" she exclaimed, only to hear a girl standing next to her echo the sentiment.

"Oh, hey, Sarah!" Julia interjected, stepping in. She glanced at Rose, hinting, "Take those accessories while I keep her distracted." Turning to Sarah, she asked, "So, what’s up?"

"Oh, nothing special," Sarah blushed.

"Ah, getting ready for a date, are we?" Julia teased.

"Not exactly a date, but I really wish! I’m just going to ask him out first," Sarah replied.

"Got it," Julia said slyly. Meanwhile, Rose was at the checkout counter paying for the accessories. Relieved, Julia added, "Sarah, we’re in a bit of a hurry. See you later!"

"Okay," Sarah replied. But when she looked down, she noticed the accessories she’d wanted to buy were gone. Frustrated, she muttered, "Ugh, they tricked me! But why would they be shopping? Is she meeting someone? Could it be John? Oh no, I’d better call him now before it’s too late!"

Sarah found a quiet corner and dialed John's number. The phone rang, and John answered, "Hello, who’s this?"

Her heart raced, and she felt nervous, but she knew it was now or never. If she didn’t say something, Rose might take her chance. She finally spoke up, "Hello, John, it’s me—Sarah. Sarah Samuels."

"Oh, hello, Sarah! What’s up?" John replied.

Not wanting to come on too strong, Sarah asked, "Are you free today?"

Without hesitation, John answered, "I’m sorry, I have to go out somewhere."

Sarah asked bluntly, "Are you meeting someone?"

John, familiar with her from years as classmates, just replied, "I’m going to the bookstore."

"Can I join you?" she asked.

"Sure, why not!" John said, giving her the address. "See you at five, Sarah."

"Yeah, see you at five!" Sarah replied, and he hung up. She felt so elated she nearly jumped, only to remember she was still in the store. She quickly resumed her search, eventually finding a stylish top, pants, earrings, and bracelets that matched her dress. She paid the bill and left the shop. "Now, I just need to get my hair done," she thought.

Meanwhile, Sam was browsing rings in another store when Rupert said, "How many more rings are you going to look at? Just pick one so we can get to practice for the match!"

"Okay, okay!" Sam replied.

"So, are you nervous about proposing to Rose?" Rupert asked.

"A little, but I need to propose before John does," Sam admitted.

Rupert nodded, "Mmm."

It was nearly 5 PM when Sarah arrived at the bookstore, looking stunning. John spotted her and waved with a smile, saying, "Wow, you look beautiful."

Sarah, blushing at his unexpected compliment, replied, "Thank you." They went inside, and John began browsing business books on marketing. Curious, Sarah asked, "Why are you looking at books on business marketing?"

"Oh, I’m taking an Amazon course. I want to be a businessman but haven’t decided on my product focus yet. I’m hoping I’ll figure it out after the course," John explained.

"What a coincidence! I want to start a business too," Sarah said. "I make my own dresses and plan to sell them online soon. Could you help me?"

"No problem," John replied, smiling. "I’ll prepare a schedule, and we can explore ideas together."

Sarah felt like she was in a dream. To her delight, John bought her another book, saying, "This one’s on me."

Sarah smiled back, "Thank you!" They left the bookstore, walking together, and John asked, "Are you free tomorrow?"

Sarah, hardly believing her luck, replied, "Yes, I’m free."

"Would you like to go to a restaurant, just to get to know each other better?" John asked.

"Sure," Sarah agreed, still processing her excitement.

John added, "You know, you never told me you live right next to my house."

Stunned, Sarah thought, "What?!"

Back at home, her mom and dad teasingly asked, "So, how did the date go?"

Still in shock, Sarah brushed off their questions, but Maddie laughed at her. Regaining her composure, she asked her mom, "Why didn’t you tell me John lives next door?"

Her mom replied, "Oh, I thought you knew, dear."

Maddie chimed in, "So, the guy you’ve had a crush on since elementary school was right next door? What a pity!"

"Shut up, Maddie!" Sarah retorted, then went to her room, threw herself onto the bed, and hugged a pillow, rolling around with excitement.

Then her phone rang—it was John. "Sarah, I sent you the schedule for our class in an email. Check it out, and let me know if you’d like any changes. The timetable is for evening classes except on Saturdays and Sundays. Saturdays will be a full day, and Sundays a half-day. No rush; it’ll just be us."

Floating on cloud nine, Sarah replied, "Oh, yes, I’m here!"

"Don’t forget about tomorrow," John reminded her.

Later that evening, Maddie rushed to Sarah’s room, breathless. "Sarah! Get dressed, put on something nice, and don’t forget lipstick!"

"What? Why?" Sarah asked, confused.

"Just do it!" Maddie insisted.

Figuring it must be about Maddie’s boyfriend, Sarah dressed up and went downstairs. To her surprise, John was sitting at the dining table with her family. Her heart raced.

"Oh, there you are, honey!" her mom said. "Come, sit with us." The only seat available was next to John.

John discussed business ideas and mentioned an interest in helping Sarah with her online store. "Thank you so much, Sarah; it means a lot to me," he said with a smile.

"Well, Mr. George, I’ll take my leave now," John said.

"Come back anytime, son," her dad replied warmly.

Sarah followed John outside, calling after him, "Why did you come to my home?"

"I… uh… to ask you… for your proposal," John stammered, his heart racing. He quickly added, "Could you wait here a moment?" He returned a minute later, holding a beautiful gown.

"Tomorrow, wear this and come to my home, okay?" he said.

"Okay," Sarah whispered.

He moved closer, his hand brushing her cheek in the cool evening breeze. His gaze dropped to her lips as he murmured, "I never imagined the girl next door could give me chills and make my heart skip a beat. Sarah, I love you."

He kissed her, holding her tightly.