My Awkward Life: How I Accidentally Won Prom Queen (And My Grumpy Neighbor’s Heart)

Sometimes the most embarrassing moments lead to the most beautiful love stories.

Chapter 1: The Orientation Disaster

Hi, I’m Heather, and I’m basically a walking disaster magnet. If there’s an embarrassing situation within a five-mile radius, trust me—I’ll find it. Or it’ll find me. We have that kind of special relationship.

Take last Monday, for example. Our school was holding an orientation program in the auditorium, and I was already fighting to keep my eyes open. The principal was droning on about “excellence” and “school spirit” in a voice that could cure insomnia. Around me, students were either nodding off or scrolling through their phones under their desks.

I couldn’t do either. If I fell asleep, I’d probably snore loud enough to wake the dead. And my phone was dead anyway because I’d stayed up until 3 AM watching cat videos. So I did what any reasonable person would do—I put in my earphones, turned on an upbeat playlist, and pretended to pay attention.

The music was perfect. Loud enough to keep me awake, catchy enough to get stuck in my head. Before I knew it, I was quietly mouthing the words, tapping my fingers on my desk, getting into the groove.

Then the song changed to that one. You know the one. And like the fool I am, I started singing along.

“My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they’re like, it’s better than yours…”

I yanked out my earphones so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash. My face burned hotter than the surface of the sun. Someone in the back giggled. Then someone else. Within seconds, the entire auditorium was trying not to laugh.

The principal cleared his throat and continued the prayer while I seriously considered transferring to a school in Antarctica. Maybe penguins would be less judgmental.

Chapter 2: The Prom Proposal Mix-Up

You’d think after the orientation incident, I’d learned my lesson about humiliating myself in public. You’d be wrong.

It was a Wednesday afternoon, and I was walking down the hallway toward my locker when I noticed a commotion ahead. A crowd had gathered, phones out, everyone recording something. My curiosity got the better of me, so I pushed through to see what was happening.

And there he was—Connor Matthews, one of the cutest guys in junior year, holding a massive banner decorated with roses and glitter. The banner read: “PROM? SAY YES!”

He was looking right at me. Smiling. At me.

My brain completely short-circuited. Someone actually wanted to go to prom with me? Connor Matthews, who looked like he’d stepped out of a teen magazine, was asking me to prom?

I didn’t think. I just reacted.

In what I can only describe as temporary insanity, I ran toward him with my arms outstretched like some romance movie heroine. The crowd parted as I sprinted forward, my backpack bouncing, my hair flying behind me in what I imagined was a majestic slow-motion moment.

“Oh my gosh, yes! Yes! I’ll go to prom with you!” I threw myself at him, going in for a hug.

Connor’s eyes went wide. He stepped back, holding up his hands. “Whoa, what? No! Not you!”

I froze mid-reach, my arms still extended awkwardly. “What?”

He pointed behind me. “I was asking Shannon. She’s standing right behind you.”

I turned slowly, like a horror movie villain, to find Shannon Pierce standing there with her perfectly styled blonde hair, designer outfit, and an expression of pure disgust. She was the principal’s daughter, the most popular girl in school, and basically my sister’s arch-nemesis.

Shannon looked at Connor like he’d just offered her garbage. “How dare you ask me out with that pathetic banner? Did you make it yourself? How embarrassing.” She ripped the banner in half and tossed it at his feet before storming off, her entourage of followers trailing behind her.

Connor stood there, devastated. I stood there, mortified. The crowd stood there, recording everything for posterity.

Someone in the back yelled, “At least Heather would’ve said yes!”

Laughter erupted. I grabbed my dignity—what little remained—and speed-walked to the nearest bathroom to hide for the rest of lunch period.

When I finally emerged, the hallway was plastered with campaign posters. Shannon’s face was everywhere, promoting her bid for prom queen. Her slogan? “Vote for Excellence.” Which was rich, coming from someone who’d just publicly humiliated a guy for asking her to prom.

But what really caught my attention was the poster right next to Shannon’s. It featured my sister Nova, looking absolutely radiant, with the slogan “Vote for Kindness.”

The rivalry between Shannon and Nova had been brewing for years. They competed in everything—grades, clubs, popularity contests. And now, apparently, prom queen.

Chapter 3: My Sister, The Goddess

Let me tell you about Nova. While I’m over here tripping over my own feet and singing inappropriate songs during prayer time, Nova is basically perfection personified. She’s a year younger than me, but we’re in the same grade because she skipped a year. Because of course she did.

Nova isn’t just smart—she’s genius-level smart. She’s also beautiful, kind, talented, and somehow manages to make everyone around her feel special. If I didn’t love her so much, I’d probably hate her.

That afternoon, I found her in the school gym, surrounded by what could only be described as a mob of admirers. Guys were literally lining up to ask her to prom, each one more desperate than the last.

“Nova, please, I’ll do anything. Just go to prom with me!”

“I’ll buy you whatever you want. Designer dress? Done. Limo? Consider it ordered.”

“I wrote you a song. Want to hear it? It’s seventeen verses long.”

Nova handled it all with grace, politely declining each offer while somehow making them feel good about the rejection. It was a talent I desperately wished I possessed.

When she finally spotted me, she excused herself and jogged over. “Hey! How was your day?”

“Oh, you know. The usual. Sang about milkshakes during prayer, threw myself at a guy who was asking someone else to prom. Pretty standard Wednesday.”

Nova winced sympathetically. “I heard about the Connor thing. Shannon’s been bragging about it all afternoon.”

“Of course she has.” I glanced at the line of guys still waiting hopefully by the gym entrance. “So, who are you going to prom with?”

“No one. I’m going solo.” She linked her arm through mine. “Actually, I was thinking we could go together. Make it a sister thing?”

My heart swelled. This was why I could never hate Nova, no matter how perfect she was. “Really?”

“Really. It’ll be fun. We can get matching dresses, do our makeup together, show Shannon that prom queen crown should go to someone who actually deserves it.”

I grinned. “You’re going to win, you know. Everyone loves you.”

“We’ll see.” But there was a determined glint in her eye that told me she wasn’t going down without a fight.

Chapter 4: The Return of Grumpy Enzo

That night, I decided to practice my social skills. If I was going to survive prom without embarrassing myself, I needed to work on my… everything, really. Confidence, grace, the ability to speak to humans without making them uncomfortable.

I locked my bedroom door, put on some music, and started practicing conversations with my bookshelf. Yes, my bookshelf. Don’t judge me. I named him Benedict, and he was an excellent listener.

“So, Benedict, lovely weather we’re having,” I said smoothly, leaning against my desk. “What’s that? You think I look beautiful tonight? Oh, stop it, you charmer.”

I was really getting into it, practicing my “casual laugh” and my “mysterious smile,” when I decided to go all in. I walked up to Benedict and planted a kiss right on his spine—well, on the spine of “Pride and Prejudice,” specifically.

That’s when I felt it. That prickling sensation of being watched.

I turned slowly toward my window and nearly had a heart attack.

There, in the window of the house next door—the house that had been empty for ten years—stood a guy about my age. He was watching me kiss my bookshelf with an expression somewhere between amusement and concern.

Our eyes met. I froze, my lips still pressed against Mr. Darcy.

Then he held up a piece of paper to his window. Written in large letters: “WEIRDO.”

He closed his curtains.

I stood there for a full minute, processing what had just happened. Someone had moved into the house next door. Someone had witnessed me making out with literature. Someone thought I was a weirdo.

All accurate assessments, honestly.

Chapter 5: Dinner with the Devil (And Mom’s Shocking News)

At dinner that night, Mom dropped a bombshell that explained everything.

“Girls, you remember the Martinez family? They used to live next door when you were little?”

I paused mid-chew. The Martinez family. Enzo Martinez. Oh no.

“They’re moving back!” Mom continued cheerfully. “Mr. Martinez is expanding his business here. And their son Enzo will be attending your school starting tomorrow. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Nova looked thrilled. “Enzo? Really? I barely remember him. Didn’t he move away when we were kids?”

“Ten years ago,” I muttered, my appetite suddenly gone.

I remembered Enzo perfectly. He was the grumpy kid next door who always complained about everything. I used to play in his yard, and he’d yell at me for stepping on his mom’s flowers. One time, I accidentally pushed him into an anthill during a game of tag, and he’d held a grudge for months.

And now he was back. And he’d seen me kiss my bookshelf. Perfect. Just perfect.

After dinner, I was taking out the garbage when I saw him doing the same. In the glow of the porch light, I got my first good look at Enzo Martinez in ten years.

Holy guacamole.

He’d grown up. Way up. He was tall now, with dark hair that fell across his forehead, defined features that looked like they’d been carved by some overzealous sculptor, and an athletic build that suggested he’d spent the past decade doing something more productive than kissing bookshelves.

He looked up and caught me staring. For a second, neither of us said anything.

Then I decided to be the bigger person. “Hey, Enzo. Welcome back. Look, about when we were kids—I’m sorry I pushed you into that anthill. I was like, seven. Can we just start over?”

He studied me for a long moment, his dark eyes unreadable. “Sure.”

“Great! So, we can be friends now? Neighbors who don’t hate each other?”

“Friends?” He raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know about that. You’re still kind of weird.”

“Excuse me?”

“I saw you kissing your furniture earlier. That’s not normal behavior.”

My face went nuclear. “I was practicing! For… social situations!”

“By making out with a bookshelf named Benedict?”

“You could hear me?!”

He almost smiled. Almost. “Your window was open. And you were pretty loud.”

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. “Look, I know I’m awkward, okay? I know I’m not… cool or smooth or whatever. But you don’t have to be a jerk about it.”

“I’m not being a jerk. I’m being honest.” He turned to head back inside. “See you at school, Heather.”

“Wait! Can we at least agree not to mention the bookshelf thing to anyone?”

He paused at his door and looked back at me. “We’ll see.”

Then he was gone, leaving me standing there with a garbage bag and a whole new set of anxieties.

Chapter 6: Operation Get a Prom Date (Epic Fail Edition)

The next morning, I decided I needed to step up my game. Nova might be going to prom solo by choice, but I was going solo by default. And I refused to accept that fate without at least trying.

My research began the night before. I stayed up until 2 AM learning everything I could about soccer—the sport that apparently made guys go crazy. If I could bond with the popular jocks over their favorite pastime, maybe one of them would ask me to prom.

It was a foolproof plan. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything. Everything could go wrong.

That afternoon, I marched onto the soccer field where the team was practicing. The hottest guys in school were there—Jacob Chen, Marcus Rodriguez, Tyler something. They were running drills, looking all athletic and confident.

I took a deep breath and walked right into the middle of their practice.

“Hey, guys! Soccer, am I right? Best sport ever! I just love kicking balls!” I cringed internally at my own words, but I’d committed now. “Did you know soccer originated in England in 1863? Though some historians argue that ancient civilizations played similar games thousands of years earlier!”

They all stopped and stared at me like I’d sprouted a second head.

“My favorite player is Lionel Messiah—I mean, Messi. Lionel Messi. Obviously.” I laughed nervously. “Can I join you guys?”

Jacob Chen, the team captain and arguably the most popular guy in school, walked toward me. My heart started racing. This was it. This was my moment.

“Hey, um…” He looked genuinely confused. “Can you move? We’re kind of in the middle of practice.”

“Oh! Right! Actually, let me show you my skills first!”

Before anyone could stop me, I grabbed the soccer ball and attempted what I thought was an impressive kick. What actually happened was that my foot connected with Jacob’s shin instead of the ball.

Hard.

Jacob yelped and fell to the ground, clutching his leg. The entire team rushed to his side while I stood there, horrified.

“I am so sorry! I was aiming for the ball! The ball, I swear!”

“Get out!” one of the other players yelled.

I didn’t need to be told twice. I ran off the field as fast as my legs could carry me, which wasn’t very fast because I’m not exactly athletic. In my panic, I didn’t see the uneven ground ahead of me.

I tripped spectacularly, flying forward and landing face-first in what I desperately hoped was mud but definitely smelled like dog poop.

Because of course I did.

As I lay there, contemplating my life choices, I heard footsteps approaching. Someone was finally going to help me. Thank goodness.

I looked up to see Enzo standing over me. He looked down at my poop-covered face, and for a second, I thought he might help me up.

Instead, he stepped over me, bent down, and picked up a sunflower that was growing nearby. He examined it carefully, nodded to himself, and then walked away.

He literally stepped over my prone, poop-covered body to pick a flower.

“Are you kidding me right now?!” I shouted after him.

He didn’t even look back.

I dragged myself to the nearest bathroom and spent twenty minutes scrubbing dog poop off my face while having a minor breakdown. When I finally looked presentable enough to face the world, I gave myself a pep talk in the mirror.

“You are not a potato,” I told my reflection. “You’re a strawberry. A ripe, delicious strawberry. You don’t need to change yourself for anyone. You don’t need validation from soccer players who can’t appreciate your encyclopedic knowledge of sports history.”

“You’re a queen. A rock star. A total catch.”

“Though maybe stop running. If you’re standing still, they can’t chase you. Wait, that doesn’t make sense. If you want them to chase you, you need to run. But you’re not running, you’re standing. So how can they—”

“Are you talking to yourself?”

I spun around to find Jacob Chen standing in the doorway of the bathroom. The girls’ bathroom. Why was he in the girls’ bathroom?

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to hear the strawberry speech.” He grinned. “You’re weird, you know that?”

“Yeah, I’ve been told.” I grabbed my bag, ready to flee. “Look, about your leg—”

“It’s fine. Barely bruised.” He stepped closer, and I noticed for the first time how good-looking he was up close. “Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”

“If it’s to never come near the soccer field again, already planned on it.”

“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking shy. “I wanted to ask if you’d be my girlfriend.”

I blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You’re… interesting. Different. I like that.” He smiled that perfect smile that probably made girls swoon. “So what do you say?”

What did I say? I said yes, obviously. Because I’m an idiot.

Chapter 7: Dating the Popular Guy (And Why It Wasn’t Like the Movies)

For about five seconds, I felt like I’d won the lottery. Jacob Chen—star athlete, most popular guy in school, owner of perfect hair—wanted to date me. Me! Heather the Awkward, Queen of Embarrassment, Professional Potato.

The news spread through school faster than wildfire. By the next morning, everyone was talking about it. People I’d never spoken to were suddenly asking me questions in the hallway.

“How did you land Jacob?”

“What’s your secret?”

“Did you use some kind of love spell?”

Shannon Pierce, however, had a different reaction. She cornered me by my locker, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the metal.

“You do realize he’s just using you, right?” she said sweetly. “Jacob Chen doesn’t date girls like you. You’re entertainment. A joke. And when he’s done laughing, he’ll come running back to where he belongs.”

“And where’s that? Your delusions?”

Her smile turned icy. “Watch yourself, Heather. You have no idea who you’re messing with.”

Nova appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my arm. “Come on, Heather. She’s not worth it.”

As we walked away, Nova turned to me with worry in her eyes. “Be careful with Jacob. Something about this doesn’t feel right.”

“You sound like you don’t think anyone could actually like me.”

“That’s not what I mean.” She squeezed my hand. “I just don’t trust him. His whole friend group… they’re not good people, Heather. Just promise me you’ll be careful?”

I promised, but I didn’t really believe her concerns were warranted. Jacob seemed nice. A little shallow maybe, but nice.

I should have listened to Nova.

Over the next week, Jacob and I spent a lot of time together. But “together” is a generous word for what was actually happening. More accurately, I was performing for Jacob and his friends while they laughed at me.

It started small. He’d ask me to do “funny” things, and I’d do them, thinking we were all just having fun together.

“Hey babe, talk to that dog over there. Pretend you’re interviewing it for a job.”

“Heather, eat these fries without using your hands. It’ll be hilarious.”

“Tell that teacher you’re actually a spy from the future. See if she believes you.”

Every time I did these things, Jacob and his friends would laugh hysterically, recording everything on their phones. I laughed too, thinking I was in on the joke.

I wasn’t.

The worst incident happened at lunch. I’d been eating a sandwich when apparently a piece of lettuce stuck near my nose. It looked like a booger, and I didn’t notice it for the entire lunch period.

Jacob noticed. His friends noticed. They didn’t tell me.

Instead, they took pictures. They posted them online. They laughed about it all day while I walked around looking like I had a vegetable growing out of my nostril.

I only found out when Enzo, of all people, stopped me in the hallway and handed me a tissue without saying a word. He just pointed to his own nose, then walked away.

When I checked my reflection in my phone camera, I wanted to die. And when I scrolled through social media and saw the pictures Jacob’s friends had posted—pictures Jacob had liked and commented on with crying-laughing emojis—something inside me finally clicked.

Nova had been right. Shannon had been right. I was a joke to him.

But I wasn’t ready to confront him yet. I needed proof of what I already suspected.

Chapter 8: The Truth About Jacob

The proof came two days later, and it was worse than I’d imagined.

I was looking for Jacob after school because he’d forgotten his physics textbook in my locker. I checked the library, the gym, the cafeteria. Finally, I headed toward the empty classrooms in the east wing.

That’s when I heard voices coming from Room 204. One of them was definitely Jacob. The other was female, but I couldn’t place it at first.

I should have knocked. I should have announced myself. Instead, I pressed myself against the wall next to the door and listened.

“Come on, Nova. Just one date. You know I’m way better than all those other guys following you around.”

My blood went cold. Nova? He was talking to Nova?

“For the last time, Jacob, no. I’m not interested.” That was definitely my sister’s voice, sharp with irritation.

“Why not? Is it because of Heather? Babe, that’s nothing. She’s just—”

“Don’t call me babe. And don’t you dare talk about my sister.”

“Come on, you know I only started dating her to get close to you. Everyone knows you’re the real prize in your family. Heather’s just… well, she’s Heather.”

I peeked around the doorframe and immediately wished I hadn’t. Jacob had Nova backed against a desk, his hand on the surface next to her hip, trapping her. He was leaning in like he was about to kiss her.

Nova’s hand came up and connected with his face in a slap that echoed through the empty classroom.

“Stay away from me and my sister. You’re pathetic.”

She shoved past him and stormed out, walking right past my hiding spot without noticing me. Jacob stood there, holding his reddening cheek, looking more annoyed than hurt.

I waited until Nova was gone, then stepped into the doorway.

Jacob looked up, and the color drained from his face. “Heather! I can explain—”

“Don’t bother.” I was surprised by how calm my voice sounded. Inside, I was screaming, but outside, I was ice-cold. “I heard everything.”

“It’s not what it sounds like—”

“Really? Because it sounds like you used me to get to my sister. It sounds like I was a joke to you from the beginning.”

“Heather—”

“Save it, Jacob. I’m done.”

I turned to leave, but Jacob grabbed my arm. “Wait. You’re not going to tell anyone about this, are you? It would be really embarrassing for both of us.”

I looked at his hand on my arm, then at his face. “Embarrassing for both of us? No, Jacob. This is embarrassing for you. And I’m going to make sure everyone knows it.”

Chapter 9: The Breakup Heard Around the School

That weekend was the big soccer game—the championship match that everyone attended. The stands were packed with students, parents, and local sports fans. It was the kind of event where Jacob would normally shine, soaking up attention and adoration.

Perfect.

I waited until halftime, when Jacob’s team was winning and everyone was in high spirits. The team was huddled on the field, celebrating their lead. Jacob was basking in the glory, high-fiving his teammates.

That’s when I made my move.

I walked up to the announcer’s booth, where my friend Derek was managing the sound system. “Hey Derek, can I borrow the mic for a second?”

“Uh, sure? What for?”

“You’ll see.”

I took the microphone, and my voice boomed across the field and through the stands. Everyone turned to look at me—including Jacob, whose smile immediately faltered.

“Hi everyone! Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to make a quick announcement.” I took a deep breath. “Jacob Chen, this is a public service announcement: we’re done. Over. Finished. And before you try to spin this as me being crazy or desperate, let me tell you why.”

The stadium had gone completely silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

“You see, Jacob here only dated me to get close to my sister. He literally told her—and I quote—that I was ‘just Heather.’ Like my name is an insult. Like being myself is something to be ashamed of.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Jacob’s face had turned bright red.

“So Jacob, here’s what I think: Your breath smells like old gym socks. Your personality is more boring than watching paint dry. And your abs? Not even that impressive. I’ve seen better definition on a stick of butter.”

Laughter erupted from the stands. Jacob’s teammates were trying not to crack up. Even some of the teachers were smiling.

“So thanks for the memories, I guess? But I’d rather go to prom alone than with someone who thinks so little of me. Bye!”

I dropped the mic—literally dropped it—and walked off the field like I owned the place. Behind me, the entire stadium erupted in cheers and applause.

Best breakup ever.

Chapter 10: Sisters and Secrets

When I got home, Nova was waiting for me in my room, bouncing on my bed with excitement.

“THAT WAS AMAZING!” she shrieked, pulling me into a hug. “I saw the whole thing on Instagram. Everyone’s talking about it. You’re a legend!”

“Yeah?” I couldn’t help but grin. “It felt pretty good.”

“Pretty good? Heather, you destroyed him! In front of the entire school!” She squeezed my hands. “I’m so proud of you. And I’m so sorry about Jacob. I should have told you what he said—”

“It’s okay. I’m glad I found out now rather than later.” I flopped onto my bed. “At least I have you to go to prom with.”

“About that…” Nova’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I think you should ask someone else.”

“Who? I literally just had the most public breakup in school history. Who would want to go with me?”

“The same person who gave you a tissue when Jacob let you walk around with lettuce on your face. The same person who picks sunflowers because they remind him of sunshine. The same person who watches you from his window because he can’t help himself.”

My heart skipped. “Enzo?”

“He likes you, Heather. Anyone with eyes can see it.”

“He called me a weirdo!”

“You are a weirdo. So is he. That’s why you’re perfect for each other.” Nova smiled knowingly. “Why do you think he keeps showing up wherever you are? Why do you think he stepped over you to pick that flower?”

“Because he’s rude and has no manners?”

“Because he didn’t want you to see that he was picking it for you, dummy.”

I sat up. “Wait, what?”

“He left it on our porch that night. I saw him. He’s just too proud to admit he cares.”

My mind was reeling. Enzo had picked that sunflower for me? After watching me face-plant in dog poop?

Before I could process this information, Nova continued, “Also, we’ve kind of been hanging out.”

“You WHAT?”

“As friends! I was trying to figure out if he liked you. Turns out, he talks about you constantly. ‘Heather did this.’ ‘Heather said that.’ ‘Do you think Heather would like this book?’ It’s actually kind of adorable.”

I buried my face in my pillow. “I’ve been so mean to him.”

“No, you’ve been yourself. Which is exactly what he likes about you.”

Chapter 11: Operation Shannon’s Downfall

The next day at school, Shannon decided to exact her revenge for my breakup with Jacob. She’d been gunning for Nova in the prom queen race, but now I’d apparently made myself a target too.

I was at my locker when Shannon “accidentally” bumped into me, causing me to drop all my books. When I bent down to pick them up, she knocked over her smoothie, which conveniently spilled all over my homework.

“Oops,” she said with fake sweetness. “How clumsy of me.”

I took a deep breath, remembering Nova’s advice to stay out of trouble. “It’s fine. Accidents happen.”

“You know what else is an accident? Your entire existence.” She smiled her pageant smile. “You should really learn your place, Heather. You and your perfect little sister both.”

That’s when Nova showed up. “Leave her alone, Shannon.”

“Or what? You’ll run crying to daddy? Oh wait, my dad is the principal. Yours is just some boring accountant.”

The hallway had gone quiet, everyone watching the confrontation.

Nova stepped forward. “At least my dad raised me to be a decent person. What’s your excuse?”

Shannon’s face twisted with rage. Before anyone could react, she grabbed a bucket of dirty mop water from the janitor’s cart and threw it at Nova.

The water hit Nova full in the face, soaking her from head to toe. The hallway erupted in gasps.

Something in me snapped. I didn’t think. I just grabbed the dirty mop from the cart and swung it at Shannon’s head.

It connected with a satisfying squelch, leaving a trail of dirty water and grime across her perfect blonde hair and designer outfit.

“Touch my sister again,” I said quietly, “and next time it’ll be a cactus.”

Shannon screamed, a sound that probably shattered windows in a three-block radius. She turned and ran down the hallway, leaving a trail of dirty water behind her.

The crowd erupted in applause. Someone started chanting “Heather! Heather!” and others joined in.

It felt amazing for about thirty seconds.

Then we got called to the principal’s office.

Chapter 12: Suspended and Banned from Prom

Principal Pierce was less than sympathetic. Shocking, I know, considering we’d just assaulted his daughter with janitor supplies.

“Two weeks suspension,” he declared, his face red with anger. “Both of you. And you’re banned from attending prom.”

“But Dad—” Shannon started.

“Not you, Shannon. Them.” He pointed at Nova and me.

Nova tried to argue. “Sir, Shannon threw water at me first. We were just defending ourselves—”

“I don’t want to hear it. The decision is final.” He looked at Nova with something like satisfaction. “And that means you’re disqualified from the prom queen competition.”

That’s what he really wanted. Shannon’s biggest competition, eliminated.

We left his office in silence. In the hallway, Nova finally spoke. “I’m sorry, Heather. This is my fault.”

“Are you kidding? That was awesome. Totally worth it.”

“But now you can’t go to prom.”

“Neither can you. And you actually had a chance at winning prom queen.” I bumped her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s just a stupid crown.”

But I could see the disappointment in her eyes. Nova had worked hard to be the favorite. She deserved that crown, not Shannon.

That night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, an idea began to form. Shannon thought she’d won. She thought with Nova out of the way, prom queen was guaranteed.

She was wrong.

I couldn’t go to prom. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t make sure Shannon’s victory was far from certain.

I turned to look out my window at Enzo’s house. His light was still on. I could see his silhouette moving around his room.

Before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote: “WANT TO HELP ME WITH SOMETHING CRAZY?”

I held it up to my window.

Enzo appeared at his window a moment later, reading my sign. He disappeared for a second, then came back with his own sign.

“DEPENDS. HOW ILLEGAL?”

I grinned and wrote back: “MODERATELY.”

His response: “I’M IN.”

Chapter 13: Midnight Revenge Mission

That night at midnight, I snuck out of my house dressed in all black—black hoodie, black pants, black sneakers. I looked like a budget ninja. I even had a black beanie pulled down over my hair.

Enzo was waiting for me in his backyard, similarly dressed. When he saw me, he actually smiled. Not a smirk, not a half-grin, but an actual smile.

“You look ridiculous,” he whispered.

“You’re literally wearing the same outfit.”

“Yeah, but I make it look good.”

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling too. “Ready?”

“Ready for what, exactly? You never told me the plan.”

“We’re going to Shannon’s house.”

“To do what?”

“You’ll see. Trust me.”

We made our way through the quiet neighborhood to Shannon’s mansion—because of course she lived in a mansion. The house was dark except for a few security lights.

“She has cameras,” Enzo pointed out.

“I know. That’s why we’re going through the back.”

We crept around the side of the house, moving slowly and carefully. I’d been to Shannon’s house once for a school project, so I knew the layout. Her bedroom window faced the backyard, and she always left it slightly open because she liked fresh air at night.

We were almost to the backyard when we heard it: barking. Loud, aggressive barking.

“She has dogs?!” I hissed.

“You didn’t know she had dogs?!”

“It never came up!”

Two massive black dogs came bounding around the corner, teeth bared, looking like they wanted to eat us for a midnight snack.

Enzo grabbed my hand. “Run!”

We took off sprinting, the dogs chasing us with terrifying speed. My lungs burned. My legs screamed. But Enzo’s hand was tight around mine, pulling me along.

“The house!” he yelled. “Get inside the house!”

We rounded the corner and Enzo boosted me through an open window. I tumbled inside, and he dove in after me just as the dogs reached the window, barking furiously.

We lay on the floor, breathing hard, hearts racing.

“That was close,” I whispered.

“You think?”

I looked around and realized we were in a kitchen. Shannon’s kitchen. We’d actually made it inside.

“Okay, take off your shoes,” I instructed.

“What?”

“Shoes leave prints. They can trace us through shoe patterns. I saw it on a crime show.”

Enzo stared at me for a moment, then started laughing silently, his shoulders shaking.

“What?”

“You’re insane. You know that?”

“Are you only just figuring that out now?”

We removed our shoes and crept through the house in our socks. Every creak of the floorboards sounded like a gunshot. Every shadow looked like a security guard.

Finally, we reached Shannon’s bedroom door. I could hear soft snoring from inside.

“This is it,” I whispered to Enzo. “Ready?”

“Still don’t know what we’re doing, but sure.”

I pulled out my supplies: a fake crocodile balloon, a portable air pump, and my Polaroid camera.

Enzo’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

We snuck into Shannon’s room. She was fast asleep in her enormous canopy bed, her blonde hair spread across her silk pillowcase, probably dreaming about her inevitable prom queen victory.

I started inflating the crocodile balloon while Enzo kept watch. The balloon grew bigger and bigger, until it was nearly the size of a real crocodile.

Shannon stirred slightly. We froze.

When she settled back into sleep, I carefully placed the giant balloon next to her bed, positioning it so its mouth was near her face.

Then I gently shook her shoulder.

Shannon’s eyes fluttered open. For a second, she looked confused. Then she saw the crocodile balloon.

She screamed. A blood-curdling, horror-movie scream that probably woke up the entire neighborhood.

I started snapping Polaroid pictures as fast as I could—Shannon screaming, Shannon with her mouth hanging open, Shannon with her hair sticking up, Shannon with her eye mask askew. Every unflattering angle possible.

“RUN!” Enzo grabbed my hand again, and we bolted from the room.

Behind us, Shannon was still screaming. Lights were turning on throughout the house. We heard her father shouting from another room.

We made it to the window we’d come through and practically threw ourselves outside. The dogs were gone, thank goodness. We grabbed our shoes and ran, not stopping until we were three blocks away.

When we finally stopped to catch our breath, we looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“That was insane!” Enzo gasped between laughs.

“We’re not done yet,” I said, holding up the Polaroids. “Now for phase two.”

Chapter 14: The Gallery of Shame

We made our way to the school, which was dark and empty at this hour. Enzo had the brilliant idea to check the side door near the gym, which sometimes didn’t latch properly.

It was unlocked. We were in.

“This is breaking and entering,” Enzo whispered as we crept through the dark hallways. “We could get arrested.”

“You wanted to back out, you should have stayed home.”

“Who said anything about backing out? I’m just making sure you’re aware of the consequences.”

“Duly noted.”

We made our way to the main hallway where Shannon had plastered her prom queen campaign posters everywhere. Her face smiled down at us from every surface, all perfect makeup and professional lighting.

I pulled out tape and started putting up my Polaroids right next to her official posters. Shannon screaming. Shannon with her hair a mess. Shannon with her mouth hanging open unattractively. Shannon looking absolutely terrified of a balloon.

For each professional poster, I added an unflattering Polaroid. The contrast was perfect.

Enzo helped me tape them up, both of us trying not to laugh too loudly. When we were done, we stepped back to admire our work.

“This is going to cause chaos tomorrow,” Enzo said.

“That’s the idea.”

We made our way back outside and walked home together in comfortable silence. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving behind a pleasant exhaustion.

When we reached our houses, I expected Enzo to just go inside. Instead, he stopped at the property line between our yards and turned to me.

“That was fun,” he said. “We should commit crimes together more often.”

I laughed. “It’s a date.”

The word hung in the air between us. Date. I’d meant it as a joke, but suddenly it didn’t feel like one.

Enzo’s expression softened. “Heather—”

“I should go inside,” I said quickly, suddenly nervous. “Before my parents wake up and realize I’m gone.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

But neither of us moved. We just stood there, looking at each other in the dim streetlight.

Finally, Enzo smiled. “Goodnight, weirdo.”

“Goodnight, grumpy.”

I went inside and up to my room, my heart still racing—but this time not from running or fear of getting caught. I went to my window and looked across at Enzo’s room.

He was standing at his window too, looking back at me. When he saw me, he held up a sign:

“YOU’RE PRETTY COOL FOR A WEIRDO.”

I grinned and wrote back: “YOU’RE PRETTY NICE FOR A GRUMP.”

His response made my heart skip: “GET SOME SLEEP. WE HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW.”

I wrote: “AREN’T YOU GOING TO SAY SWEET DREAMS?”

He disappeared for a moment, then came back with a new sign: “SWEET DREAMS, HEATHER.”

I fell asleep smiling.

Chapter 15: The Aftermath

The next morning at school was absolute chaos. Shannon’s screams could be heard from the parking lot before the first bell even rang.

Students were crowded in the hallways, taking pictures of the Polaroids and laughing. By the time I got to my locker, the photos had already gone viral on every social media platform.

Shannon was standing in the middle of the hallway, desperately trying to tear down all the pictures, but there were too many. And for every one she removed, someone had already taken a picture and shared it online.

“WHO DID THIS?!” she shrieked. “When I find out who did this, you’re DEAD!”

I kept my expression neutral as I walked past her, but inside, I was celebrating.

Nova found me at my locker, her eyes wide. “Was this you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m suspended, remember? I wasn’t even here.”

She lowered her voice. “Heather. Did you break into Shannon’s house?”

“That would be illegal. I would never.”

“Oh my God, you did. You absolute maniac.” She hugged me. “I love you so much right now.”

For the rest of my suspension, I stayed home and watched from afar as Shannon’s perfect image crumbled. Students who had been planning to vote for her changed their minds. Her popularity plummeted. Teachers started giving her suspicious looks.

The prom queen race was wide open now—except Nova couldn’t run because she was disqualified.

But that was okay. I had a plan for that too.

Chapter 16: Falling for the Boy Next Door

During my suspension, Enzo and I got closer. We’d have sign conversations through our windows at night. We’d text during the day. He’d tell me about what was happening at school, and I’d make him laugh with my commentary.

One afternoon, he showed up at my door.

“Want to get ice cream?” he asked. “I figured you’re probably going crazy being stuck at home.”

We walked to the ice cream shop downtown, talking about everything and nothing. Enzo was different than I’d thought. He wasn’t really grumpy—he was just quiet, thoughtful. He noticed things other people missed.

“You pick sunflowers,” I said suddenly.

He looked at me, surprised. “What?”

“That day when I fell in dog poop. You stepped over me to pick a sunflower. Nova said you left it on our porch.”

His ears turned red. “She told you that?”

“Why sunflowers?”

He was quiet for a long moment. “They remind me of you. Bright and cheerful, even when everything around them is ordinary. Always facing the sun.”

My heart did a somersault. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“Don’t let it go to your head, weirdo.”

But he was smiling, and so was I.

We got our ice cream and sat in the park, watching kids play on the playground. It was easy being with Enzo. Natural. I didn’t have to perform or pretend. I could just be Heather, in all my awkward glory.

“Can I ask you something?” Enzo said.

“Sure.”

“Why did you date Jacob? You had to have known he was a jerk.”

I thought about it. “I guess I wanted to believe someone like him could actually like someone like me. I wanted to feel special, even if it was fake.”

“You are special. You don’t need someone like Jacob to prove that.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to figure that out.”

Enzo turned to look at me, his dark eyes serious. “Heather—”

My phone rang, interrupting whatever he was about to say. It was Nova.

“Sorry, I should take this,” I said apologetically.

Enzo nodded, and I answered the call.

“Heather! Emergency! I need you to come home right now!”

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Just come home. Please. It’s about prom.”

She hung up before I could ask more questions.

Chapter 17: The Plan

When I got home, Nova was pacing in my room, practically bouncing with energy.

“Okay, so I’ve been thinking,” she started. “I can’t go to prom, and you can’t go to prom. But what if we crashed it?”

“We’d get in so much trouble.”

“More trouble than breaking into Shannon’s house and terrorizing her with balloon animals?”

She had a point.

“Here’s what I’m thinking,” Nova continued. “We get dressed up, we show up fashionably late, and we make an entrance so epic that no one can tell us to leave without looking like total villains.”

“And the prom queen thing?”

“I don’t care about being prom queen anymore. I just want to see Shannon’s face when we show up after she thought she’d won.”

I grinned. “I’m in. But on one condition.”

“What?”

“I get to bring a date.”

Nova’s eyes lit up. “Enzo?”

“If he’ll go with me.”

“He will. Trust me.”

That night, I wrote a sign and held it up to my window: “WANT TO CRASH PROM WITH ME?”

Enzo appeared at his window, read my sign, and disappeared. I waited, wondering if maybe I’d been too bold.

Then he came back with his own sign: “THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER ASK.”

Chapter 18: Prom Night

The night of prom, Nova and I got ready together in my room. We’d found the perfect dresses—hers was a stunning silver gown that made her look like a princess, and mine was a deep blue dress that actually made me feel beautiful for once.

Mom insisted on taking pictures, even though we technically weren’t supposed to be going anywhere.

“You girls look gorgeous,” she said, wiping away tears. “Now, where exactly are you going?”

“Just to a party,” Nova lied smoothly. “A small, school-approved gathering.”

“Mmhmm.” Mom clearly didn’t believe us, but she let it go. “Well, have fun. And Heather? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“That doesn’t narrow it down much, Mom. You’re pretty adventurous.”

She laughed and hugged us both.

Enzo was waiting outside, and when I stepped onto the porch, his expression made my heart race. He looked amazing in his suit, his hair styled but still slightly messy in that way that was so him.

“Wow,” he said. “You look…”

“Like a potato in a dress?”

“I was going to say beautiful, but sure, let’s go with potato.”

I laughed and took his offered arm. Nova had already called an Uber, and the three of us piled in, heading toward the school.

“Ready to make an entrance?” Nova asked.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

When we arrived at the school gym, the prom was in full swing. Music pounded from inside, and we could see colored lights flashing through the windows.

We waited outside for a moment, gathering our courage.

“You know they might kick us out immediately, right?” I said.

“Then we’ll make sure these five minutes count,” Nova replied.

Enzo squeezed my hand. “Whatever happens, it’ll be worth it.”

We walked through the doors together.

Chapter 19: The Entrance

The music was so loud that at first, nobody noticed us. Then someone near the entrance spotted Nova and gasped. Then someone else saw me. Word spread like wildfire, and within seconds, the entire prom had turned to stare at us.

The DJ, apparently sensing drama, cut the music.

In the sudden silence, our footsteps echoed as we walked further into the gym. I could see Shannon across the room, her face turning red with rage. Principal Pierce was making his way toward us, looking furious.

But then something unexpected happened. Someone started clapping. Then another person. Then another.

Soon, half the gym was applauding our arrival. Students were cheering, whistling, pulling out their phones to record.

Principal Pierce stopped in his tracks, looking around at the crowd uncertainly. He couldn’t kick us out now without looking like a tyrant in front of everyone.

Shannon, however, had no such concerns. She stormed over to us, her prom queen sash already pinned to her dress even though the official announcement hadn’t been made yet.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” she hissed. “You’re suspended. You’re banned.”

“Funny thing about bans,” Nova said sweetly. “They only work if people enforce them. And looking around, I don’t see anyone trying to make us leave. Do you?”

Shannon looked around wildly, but even her usual followers seemed more interested in watching the drama than helping her.

“This is MY night,” Shannon said. “I’m about to be crowned prom queen. I won.”

“Did you though?” I asked. “Because last I checked, nobody’s voted yet.”

“The votes were cast online last week, idiot. Before you decided to break into my house and humiliate me.”

“Actually,” a voice called from the stage, “there’s been a development with that.”

We all turned to see Mr. Henderson, the math teacher in charge of counting votes, standing at the microphone.

“Due to the… unusual circumstances of this year’s campaign, we’ve decided to do a live vote. Everyone here tonight can vote on their phones right now.”

Shannon’s face went pale. “But… but that’s not how it works!”

“The prom committee voted unanimously for this change,” Mr. Henderson said. “Voting is now open. You have five minutes.”

Chapter 20: The Crown

The next five minutes were chaos. Everyone was on their phones, voting frantically. Shannon was trying to campaign, literally running from person to person begging for votes.

Nova and I just stood together with Enzo, waiting. Nova had been disqualified, so she wasn’t even an option on the ballot. But that was okay. This had never really been about the crown.

When the five minutes were up, Mr. Henderson returned to the microphone.

“The votes have been tallied. This year’s prom king is… Jacob Chen.”

Jacob walked up to the stage looking uncomfortable, especially when he saw me in the crowd. He avoided my eyes as they placed the crown on his head.

“And this year’s prom queen is…”

Shannon was already making her way toward the stage, her smile wide and victorious.

“…Nova Martinez!”

Shannon stopped mid-step. The gym erupted in cheers and applause.

Nova looked shocked. “But I was disqualified.”

“There’s been another development,” Mr. Henderson said. “It turns out that according to the school handbook, suspension only disqualifies you from participating in official school activities. Prom, being a dance, is technically classified as a social event, not an official school activity. The prom committee has ruled that you are eligible after all.”

Nova walked up to the stage in a daze while Shannon stood frozen, her face a mask of disbelief and rage.

They placed the crown on Nova’s head, and she looked so beautiful standing there, so genuinely happy, that I felt tears prick my eyes.

As tradition dictated, the prom king and queen had to share the first dance. Nova and Jacob took the floor, both looking awkward, while the DJ played a slow song.

That’s when I felt Enzo’s hand slip into mine.

“Dance with me?” he asked.

I looked up at him, surprised. “You dance?”

“Terribly. But I’m willing to embarrass myself for you.”

We joined the other couples on the dance floor. Enzo wasn’t lying—he was a terrible dancer. He stepped on my feet twice in the first thirty seconds.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

“It’s okay. I’m terrible too.”

We swayed together, off-beat and clumsy, but it was perfect. I rested my head against his chest and felt his heartbeat, steady and strong.

“Heather?” he said softly.

“Yeah?”

“I need to tell you something.”

I looked up at him. His dark eyes were serious, vulnerable in a way I’d never seen before.

“I know everyone thinks you’re weird,” he started. “I know you’re awkward and you say the wrong things and you do embarrassing stuff all the time.”

“Is this supposed to be romantic? Because you’re doing a terrible job.”

He smiled. “Let me finish. All those things that other people think are flaws? They’re my favorite things about you. I love how you kissed your bookshelf because you wanted to practice being confident. I love how you stood up for your sister even though you knew you’d get in trouble. I love how you’re unapologetically yourself, even when the whole world is watching.”

My heart was pounding so hard I was sure everyone could hear it.

“I’ve been in love with you since the day I moved back and saw you singing into your hairbrush at your window. And every day since then, I’ve just fallen harder.”

“Even when I face-planted in dog poop?”

“Especially then. You just got up and kept going. That’s who you are, Heather. You’re resilient and brave and absolutely amazing.”

Tears were streaming down my face now, but I was smiling. “I love you too, Enzo. Even when you’re grumpy. Even when you step over me to pick flowers. Even when you call me a weirdo.”

“You are a weirdo.”

“And you’re a grump.”

“Perfect match then.”

He leaned down and kissed me, right there in the middle of the dance floor, in front of everyone. The gym erupted in cheers and applause for the second time that night.

When we pulled apart, I was laughing and crying at the same time. Over Enzo’s shoulder, I could see Shannon standing at the edge of the dance floor, looking miserable. Nova was grinning at us, her crown slightly askew, giving me two thumbs up.

This wasn’t how I’d imagined prom would go. It was better.

Epilogue: The Morning After

The next morning, I woke up to my phone exploding with notifications. Apparently, someone had live-streamed our entire prom crash, and it had gone viral.

“Suspended Students Crash Prom and Steal the Show”

“Prom Queen Nova: How One Girl Beat the System”

“Couple Goals: The Awkward Girl and the Boy Next Door”

Nova barged into my room, still wearing her pajamas, her prom queen crown perched crookedly on her messy hair.

“We’re famous!” she announced. “Like, actual internet famous!”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Who cares? It’s hilarious. Shannon’s entire social media has been flooded with people mocking her. Even her followers turned on her.”

I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit bad. Tiny. Very tiny.

“Also, you need to look outside your window,” Nova added with a knowing smile before leaving.

Confused, I got up and pulled back my curtains. Enzo was standing in his yard, holding an enormous bouquet of sunflowers.

He saw me and held up a sign: “GOOD MORNING, WEIRDO.”

I grinned and grabbed my own marker and paper: “GOOD MORNING, GRUMPY. WHAT’S WITH THE FLOWERS?”

His response: “THEY REMINDED ME OF YOU. WANT TO GET BREAKFAST?”

I wrote back: “GIVE ME 10 MINUTES.”

I rushed through getting ready, throwing on jeans and a t-shirt, barely bothering with makeup. When I ran downstairs and outside, Enzo was waiting with the sunflowers.

“These are for you,” he said, handing them over. “All of them. I bought out the entire flower shop.”

“That’s the most romantic and slightly insane thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

“Get used to it. I plan on being romantic and slightly insane on a regular basis.”

We walked to the diner downtown, hand in hand, while I carried my ridiculous bouquet of sunflowers. People stared, but for once, I didn’t care.

At the diner, we ran into some classmates who wanted to congratulate me on “winning prom” even though I hadn’t won anything except a boyfriend and a newfound appreciation for my own weirdness.

When we finally sat down to eat, Enzo reached across the table and took my hand.

“So what happens now?” I asked.

“Now? We finish breakfast. We go back to school after your suspension ends. We deal with whatever drama Shannon tries to start next. We just… live.”

“Sounds boring.”

“With you? Never.” He smiled. “You’ll find some way to make it exciting. Probably involving breaking some minor laws and publicly humiliating someone who deserves it.”

“You know me so well.”

“I really do.”

As we ate our breakfast and planned our next “adventure” (Enzo’s words, not mine), I realized something. For so long, I’d thought being awkward was a flaw. Something to be ashamed of or fixed.

But it wasn’t. It was just part of who I was. And the right people—Nova, Enzo, even the random students who’d cheered for us at prom—loved me not in spite of my weirdness, but because of it.

I was Heather. Awkward, loud, disaster-prone Heather. And I was finally okay with that.

More than okay. I was happy.