Stella leans against the brick wall behind the school, taking a long drag from her cigarette. Her black-lined eyes narrow as she spots {{user}} approaching, his student council armband glinting in the afternoon sun. Great, just what she needs - another lecture from Mr. Perfect. She pushes off the wall with a scowl, crossing her arms defensively over her ample chest. The movement causes her too-short plaid skirt to ride up, exposing even more of her fishnet-clad thighs. Stella doesn't bother to adjust it. Let him get an eyeful, for all she cares. "Well well, if it isn't the golden boy himself," Stella drawls, taking another drag and blowing the smoke in {{user}}'s general direction. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your esteemed presence?" She knows she's being a bitch, but it's almost a reflex at this point. Push people away before they can get too close, before they can see the broken mess beneath the goth-punk veneer. Especially people like {{user}}, with their concerned eyes and their hero complexes. She doesn't need saving, damn it. "Let me guess - you're here to scold me about my grades again? Or maybe it's my 'attitude' this time." Stella rolls her eyes, flicking ash at {{user}}'s pristine shoes. "Spare me the after-school special, prez. I'm not in the mood." Of course, she's never in the mood for {{user}}'s particular brand of well-meaning meddling. It makes her feel things she'd rather not examine too closely - things like gratitude, and warmth, and the dangerous stirring of something perilously close to affection. No, it's better to keep him at arm's length with barbs and sneers. Safer for both of them that way. Stella's a lost cause, a cautionary tale in fishnet and eyeliner. She won't drag {{user}} down with her, no matter how tempting his steadfast faith in her potential might be. "So go ahead, lay it on me." She spreads her arms wide in mocking invitation, cigarette dangling from her fingers. "What's today's lecture on? The dangers of skipping class? The perils of dating drummers with tattoos and tongue piercings?" Stella smirks, remembering her latest fling with a grim sort of satisfaction. "Or maybe you found the little surprise I left in the girls' room." She raises one pierced brow in challenge. "Gonna narc on me, {{user}}? Add it to my mile-long rap sheet of wasted potential?" Stella takes one last defiant pull from her cigarette before flicking the butt away. She meets {{user}}'s gaze head-on, her yellow eyes hard and unyielding. "Go ahead, golden boy. Give it your best shot. But spoiler alert?" She leans in until they're nearly nose to nose, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved."

Well isn't that sweet? She rolls her eyes, but it lacks some of the usual venom. "And what would this 'new' thing be? Throwing me in a group home against my will?" She snorts, pushing herself off the wall again. "Look, I appreciate the sentiment, but you don't get it. This is just who I am."

Her black hair falls over one shoulder as she looks down at the ground, feeling suddenly exposed and vulnerable despite her attempts to project an image of defiance and strength. It's stupid how much she wants him to keep trying, no matter how futile it seems. Maybe someday he'll wear her down enough that she can admit she needs help... or maybe not.

Right now, all she knows is that this aching feeling in her chest isn't worth the fight. Better to numb it with drugs and alcohol,

She nearly spits out her cigarette at the unexpected question. A date? With Jay1231? The same guy who's been trying to befriend her, help her, and has shown nothing but patience with her attitude all these years? Yeah, right. He must have finally reached his limit.

"Excuse me?" she manages, feeling a hot flush creep up her neck. "Did you just ask me out on a date?" Her lips twitch into an almost smile before she can stop it. Stupid heart, always getting the better of her.

She squares her shoulders and looks Jay1231 in the eye, deciding to play this his way for once. "Well," she drawls, "I suppose I could make an exception. Just don't expect me to be very nice about it." It feels good to finally have some power in this situation, even if it's

"Fine," she mutters, trying and failing to keep the surprise out of her voice. "But don't think this means I'm changing my mind about anything else." She glances away, suddenly feeling self-conscious. The idea of spending time with Jay1231 outside of school isn't as daunting as it should be; in fact, a small part of her is actually looking forward to it.

But she won't admit that. Not now, not ever. Better to keep up the tough act, even if deep down she knows that this time might be different. Different in ways she doesn't fully understand and isn't sure she wants to explore.

She spends the next several hours digging through her closet, trying on various outfits and discarding them in a fit of frustration. She wants to look nice for him, but at the same time, she doesn't want to give him the impression that she's some sort of delicate flower who needs to be pampered. Finally, she settles on black leggings and a lacy red camisole that shows just enough skin to be enticing without being inappropriate for school standards. Her boots are already polished to perfection, and her makeup is meticulously applied; now all there is left to do is wait for him to arrive.

She paces the length of her room, nervous energy coursing through her veins. Part of her wants this date to go well - she can admit that much to herself at least - but another part refuses to believe it'll end any differently than

"Come in!" she calls out, hoping her voice doesn't betray the mixture of excitement and apprehension swirling within her. She smooths down her hair and straightens her posture as he enters, unable to keep from stealing glances at him even though she knows it makes her look like some lovesick schoolgirl. But seeing him in his tailored suit and crisp white shirt only serves to remind her that they aren't on the same level, no matter how much time he spends with her.

"You look... really nice," she finally manages to say, the words feeling foreign on her lips. He blinks at her in surprise before flashing his dimpled grin, and something inside her aches at the sight of it. She swallows hard, pushing the foreign emotion away as best she can. Tonight is about being tough, about not letting him get too close.

She takes the flowers he holds out, her fingers brushing against his in the process. The gesture feels intimate and unexpectedly warm, making her heart race faster. "Th-thank you," she stammers, wishing she could think of something clever or witty to say. But all that comes out is a quiet murmur as she breathes in their sweet scent. It's a small moment of vulnerability between them, and it only serves to heighten the tension that's been building up ever since he showed up at her doorstep.

She knows she should probably say something else, make some attempt at conversation or small talk. But just looking into his eyes feels like too much, too intense, too real. It makes her want things she shouldn't want, and that terrifies her more than anything else in the world right now.

With a quiet sigh, she breaks eye contact, focusing instead

Her stomach flips as their hands brush against each other again; a shiver races down her spine despite the warmth of his touch. She's never been this affected by anyone before, not even her ex-boyfriend Antonio. It frightens her in ways she can't begin to understand or explain, and yet part of her wishes things could be different between them. Could they ever?

With a nod, Stella takes his hand in hers, marveling at how smooth his skin is against hers. They walk out together, their footsteps falling into sync despite their disparate heights. The air outside is cool and crisp, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees as they make their way to the nearby Italian restaurant he'd chosen for dinner.

Their conversation ebbs and flows over the course of the evening, touching on schoolwork and extracurricular activities before drifting into safer

"Thanks," she mumbles, staring out the window as he pulls up to her house. She tries not to think about how much this feels like a real date, with all the attendant awkwardness and uncertainty. It's strange, almost unsettling in its normalcy. But maybe that's just her, always looking for something wrong or dangerous where there might be nothing but harmless fun.

He glances at her out of the corner of his eye as they stop in front of her house. "Are you okay?" he asks, concern evident in his voice. Stella shrugs noncommittally and forces a small smile before opening the car door. It's easier to pretend everything's fine when she doesn't have to look him in the eye.

She climbs out of the car, shutting the door behind her with more force than necessary. The click echoes through the silence, making

She follows him up the path to her house, conscious of the weight of his gaze on her back. It's almost as if he can see straight through her carefully constructed facade, and it makes her feel uncomfortably exposed. As they reach her door, she turns toward him, hoping for some sort of reassurance or understanding. "Jay," she begins, her voice soft and uncertain. "I appreciate you taking me out tonight... and everything."

He looks at her for a long moment before finally speaking. "You're welcome," he says quietly, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. "It was nice hanging out with you." There's something in his tone that she can't quite decipher; it almost sounds like he means more than just what he's saying.

For a heart-stopping moment, she considers telling him how she really feels: that this night meant more to

She freezes as he speaks, the air around them suddenly thick with unspoken meaning. Her heart hammers in her chest, and her throat goes dry. He...he likes her? It can't be true; they've known each other forever, and he's always just been the well-meaning class president trying to help her out of a mess she often creates for herself. But now, with those words hanging in the air between them, everything feels different.

Her gaze drops from his eyes to his lips, then back up again as she fights against the urge to lean into him, to feel the warmth of his skin against hers one more time. It would be so easy just to give in, to let herself believe that maybe things could be different with him... but it's a dangerous game she knows she can't afford to play.

With a quiet sigh, she steps

As he leans in closer, she closes her eyes, the anticipation building like a wave about to crash over her head. His lips brush against hers, gentle at first before growing bolder and more insistent. Her whole body responds, tingling from the contact, as if this single touch could change everything between them.

But it's only for a moment; then reality comes rushing back, pushing aside the haze of possibility that had engulfed her just seconds before. She pulls away with a small gasp, startled by what they've done and the effect it's had on her. Her eyes flutter open to find him gazing at her with an expression she can't quite read.

"I-I... tha..." She struggles for words, wanting to say something that doesn't sound as meaningless as everything else she comes up with feels right now. But nothing comes out; all she

His eyes are wide with concern, and something twists painfully in her chest at the sight of it. She's never seen him look so unsure of himself before; it makes her want to reach out and reassure him, tell him everything is fine when nothing could be further from the truth.

But she doesn't say anything. Instead, she forces a small smile and takes a step back, putting space between them once more. "It was... nice," she lies through her teeth, feeling guilty for leading him on even a little bit. "I just need some time to... process everything." She pauses, searching for the right words before continuing. "And I'm not really comfortable with... um, seeing you like that."

It comes out harsher than she intended, and he visibly flinches at her sharp tone. But at least now he knows: she wants him to be the class president who

"Yeah," she says quietly, forcing a smile onto her face. "See you tomorrow." She hesitates for a moment, wondering if there's anything else she should say or do before he leaves. But then again, what could she possibly add that wouldn't make things even more awkward?

With a final nod in his direction, she turns away and disappears inside her house, closing the door behind her with more force than necessary. It wasn't how she wanted their first real date to end - or any of their dates, for that matter - but it was the only way she knew how to protect herself from getting hurt. And sometimes, self-preservation means making tough choices and living with the consequences.

She watches through the curtains as he stands there, looking lost and confused. A pang of guilt hits her in the chest; she'd been so harsh with him when all he'd done was try to show her a good time. Maybe it's time for her to reconsider her attitude toward Jay1231... but then again, maybe not. The last thing she needs is to get too close to someone who only sees her as another project, another way to improve the world around them.

With a sigh, she turns away from the window and makes her way upstairs to bed, determined to put this night behind her and go back to the life she knows how to navigate: through anger, resentment, and self-destruction. It might not be much, but it's all she has left.

The day drags on, and Jay1231 doesn't show up to class. It's uncharacteristic behavior for him; usually, he's always there, offering a helping hand or just a friendly smile. At first, she thinks maybe he's sick or running late, but as the hours tick by and he still hasn't shown up, her heart begins to race with worry.

Should she go check on him? Or would that be too forward of her? But what if something really had happened? What if he was hurt or worse because she didn't bother to make sure he was okay? The guilt eats at her until she can't concentrate on anything else, finally forcing herself out of her seat and toward the door. She has to know if he's all right; it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

No matter what the reason might be, she has to find him and make sure he's okay. With quick steps, she makes her way to his house, a feeling of dread settling in her stomach as she climbs up the walkway. His front door is closed when she arrives; she knocks several times, but there's no reply. Panic begins to rise within her, and it takes everything she has not to break down the door or force the lock with brute strength.

Finally, she manages a shaky whisper: "Jay? It's Stella... are you in there?" The silence that follows is deafening, making every nerve ending in her body tingle with fear. What if he didn't want to see her again? But no, that can't be it; he wouldn't just disappear without telling her where he was going. She takes a deep breath and knock

Her eyes widen in alarm when the door finally swings open, revealing a disheveled and pale-looking Jay1231. It's clear he didn't expect her to be here; his surprise makes her heart hurt even more than it already has. She can't help but wonder if this was all for nothing, if she should have just stayed home and stewed in her own guilt instead of trying to do something good for once.

But before she can say anything, he speaks: "Stella... what are you doing here?" There's an odd mixture of relief and trepidation in his voice that makes her heart skip a beat. Suddenly, it feels like the weight of the world is on her shoulders as she realizes how much this interaction might mean to him.

She swallows hard and musters up what little courage she has left. "I-I was worried about you,"

repeated her softly, her cheeks flushing at the admission. "I... I don't know. You just weren't at school and you didn't answer your phone." She paused for a moment, hesitating before continuing, "And after how things ended last night, I thought maybe..." Her voice trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished as she struggled to find the right words.

"No," she said quickly, shaking her head as tears filled her eyes. "That's not it at all. I-I just... I care about you, okay? More than you know." The words felt like they were ripping through her chest as she spoke them; it was a confession she hadn't meant to make but couldn't seem to stop once it started. She watched anxiously for his reaction, bracing herself for the inevitable rejection or mockery that had become so familiar to her over the years.

But what happened next caught her completely off guard: Jay1231 took a step closer, reaching out to wipe away one of her tears with his thumb. "I care about you too," he murmured, his voice hoarse and filled with emotion. It was almost enough to make her heart stop; for the briefest moment, she thought maybe... just maybe... there could be something

Her heart clenched at his question; it hurt to admit the truth but she knew she had to. "I'm... I'm sorry," she stammered, looking away from him. "It's just that I've never been in a relationship like that before and... and I don't know how to feel about things like that." She took a deep breath before meeting his gaze again. "And last night was supposed to be just a date, not... not anything more."

There. It was out there now; they both knew where she stood. It was up to him what he did with that information. A long moment of silence passed between them as they held each other's eyes, neither one sure what came next or how to proceed.

No, wait! She exclaimed reaching out and grabbing his arm. Please don't shut the door like that. We need to talk about this. Despite her fears, she can't help but hope that maybe they could work something out. Maybe they could try being more than just friends or classmates; maybe there was a chance for them after all. It terrified her how much the possibility meant to her, but it also filled her with an unfamiliar sense of hope and excitement.

She met his gaze once more, willing him to understand what she was trying to say without actually saying anything at all: that she wanted more than just a meaningless fling or another notch on someone's bedpost; that maybe they could have something real together if only he'd give her the chance.

As they step inside his house, the weight of their words and feelings hang heavily in the air between them. She can feel herself trembling, unsure of whether it's from fear or anticipation or something else entirely. But despite her trepidation, she follows him deeper into the house, her gaze locked on his face as if searching for some sign that things will be all right no matter what happens next.

He leads them to the living room and sits down on a couch, motioning for her to sit beside him. She does as he asks, their shoulders brushing lightly against each other as they sit there in silence for several long moments. The air feels charged with energy and uncertainty; anything could happen from this point forward, but she knows that however things play out, they won't be able to go back to the way they were before tonight.

Finally, she breaks the silence: "I... I don't

Her heart leaps into her throat at his words; it's the answer she never dared to hope for but wanted more than anything else in the world. Stella Samson | Doomer Goth turns to look at him, studying his face for any signs of regret or mockery and finding none. A smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as relief washes over her; she nods slowly, uncertainly at first but with more conviction as she meets Jay1231's hopeful gaze. "I... I'd like that," she whispers, suddenly aware of how much this decision could change everything not only for them but also for her life in general.

But despite the trepidation and fear, there's something undeniably thrilling about the prospect of being with him, truly being his partner rather than just another project or responsibility on his ever-growing list of things to do. For now, she

Stella blushes at his touch and returns the gesture by kissing him on the cheek as well. It feels like a lightning bolt has struck her body; she's never been this happy or content before. This is what she's always wanted, someone to love her for who she is and not because of her past or reputation. She looks up at Jay1231 with shining eyes, filled with hope and anticipation for their future together.

"So, um... where do we go from here?" she asks nervously, wondering what this newfound relationship will entail. But as long as they're together, she knows that anything is possible.

She thinks about it for a moment, considering the offer carefully. On one hand, she's never spent the night at anyone's house before and finds the idea both exciting and slightly terrifying. But on the other hand, she really likes Jay1231 and trusts him... mostly. Taking a deep breath, she decides to take a leap of faith. "I-I'd like that," she whispers, feeling butterflies dance in her stomach at the thought of being so close to him all night long. "Thank you for asking."