Vitamin Gummies and Velvet Ropes

Marcus stood in the back of the gym during homecoming, clutching a bottle of neon vitamin gummies his mom swore would help him "grow big and strong." At sixteen, he was already done growing — vertically, at least. His anxiety, though? That was hitting a growth spurt.

His dog, Buster, would've had more swagger at this dance. The old golden retriever had zero social anxiety and would probably be out there on the dance floor, tongue out, not giving a single crap. Meanwhile, Marcus was busy pretending his phone's charging cable was the most fascinating thing in the universe.

Across the gym stood Chloe — the sphinx of sophomore year. She was unreadable, mysterious, always surrounded by her friends but somehow separate from them. She'd catch him staring sometimes, and he'd look away so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. Total loser move.

His friend Jay appeared, looking like he'd just won the lottery. "Bro! You coming or what?"

"Hard pass," Marcus said, popping another vitamin gummy. "You go. I'll bear witness from here."

"Bro's literally built different. A bear could come in here and you'd still be standing in the corner."

Marcus laughed despite himself. Then he saw something that made him do a double-take. Chloe was leaving, alone. She slipped out the side door near the bleachers. Before his brain could register what his feet were doing, he was following.

The night air hit him like ice water. Chloe sat on the concrete bench out front, scrolling through her phone, neon dress glowing under the streetlight.

"Hey," he said, because apparently his vocabulary had abandoned him completely.

She looked up, surprised. Then she smiled. Not that fake polite smile. A real one.

"Hey. You're Marcus, right? From bio?"

"Yeah. That's me. Marcus. Bio." He wanted to evaporate. "You're... leaving?"

"Thank god. I thought I'd have to fake-enjoy one more playlist of mid mumble rap." She patted the space beside her. "Sit. I won't bite."

He sat. The silence wasn't awkward — it was comfortable. Weirdly comfortable.

"You're not big on dances either?" she asked.

"I'd rather bear hug a cactus," he admitted.

She laughed. It was this warm, genuine sound that made something loosen in his chest. "Me too. Everyone thinks I'm some sphinx who's too cool for everything, but really I'm just awkward and good at hiding it."

"Wait, really?"

"Yes, really. You, on the other hand, seem like you've got everything figured out."

Marcus stared at her. "Chloe, I'm literally eating vitamin gummies in the corner at a dance. I have zero figured out."

She laughed again, then: "Want to get out of here? There's a food truck down the street. And I promise not to tell anyone about your gummy habit."

"Deal," he said. "But you have to try one first. They're cherry."

"Cherry it is. Just don't let my dog see — he gets jealous of other snacks."

"Wait, you have a dog?"

"Three, actually. I'm basically a professional dog mom."

Marcus grinned. Yeah, he could work with this.