The air was thick with anticipation and something electric—as if the whole school was holding its breath for the big spring dance. I wasn't sure if it was the music, the flickering neon lights, or the strange energy still lingering from the Wish Engine's fallout. Maybe it was all of it combined.
I had spent the afternoon trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach. Jason Harper had texted me—twice—and the weight of his invitation pressed on me harder than I expected. But I couldn't shake the feeling that the dance was more than just a party. It was a collision course with everything I was trying to control.
---
The gym was packed. Glittering decorations hung from the ceiling, casting dancing shadows over the crowd. I spotted Ellie Morgan across the room, laughing too loudly, her eyes occasionally flicking toward Jason. Something about the way she looked at him made my stomach twist.
And then, there was Ash.
He stood near the punch table, leaning against the wall with that quiet intensity that made it impossible to look away. His dark eyes caught mine, and for a moment, the noise around us faded.
Taking a deep breath, I moved toward him, trying to ignore the prickle of jealousy that tightened inside.
---
"Hey," I said, heart racing.
Ash smiled softly. "Hey, Calla. You look..." He paused, searching for the right word. "...unreal. Like you don't belong in a place this loud."
I laughed nervously. "Yeah, well. Neither do you."
He stepped closer. "Maybe that's why we understand each other."
---
The music shifted, slower now, and I felt his hand brush mine. My breath hitched.
"Dance with me?" Ash asked.
I hesitated, then nodded.
We moved into the center of the floor, swaying to the music. His hand rested lightly on my waist, his other hand holding mine like I was the most precious thing in the world.
For a moment, everything felt possible—like the wishes really could come true.
---
But then, a sharp voice cut through the haze.
"Well, well. If it isn't Calla Mercer, dancing with Mr. Science Prodigy himself."
Lila Kane appeared beside us, arms crossed, eyes blazing. Behind her, Jason watched with an unreadable expression.
"I didn't realize you had a date," Lila sneered.
I pulled back, heart pounding. "It's not a date."
Lila laughed, a sound full of venom. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that."
Ash's grip tightened around my hand. "We're not here for your drama, Lila."
"Oh, but I am," she said, stepping closer. "Because I think Calla's little secret is out. You're tangled up in this wish mess more than you let on. And that horse on the field? That's not just some accident. It's her wish come to life."
---
Jason's gaze shifted between me and Ash, and for the first time, I saw something—confusion? Hurt? Jealousy?—flicker behind his usual confident mask.
I wanted to explain, to tell him everything, but the words caught in my throat.
Lila's eyes gleamed. "Be careful who you trust, Calla. Wishes are powerful, but they come with a price."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving a silence that felt heavier than the music.
---
Ash squeezed my hand gently. "Ignore her. We have bigger problems."
I nodded, but I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was unraveling faster than I could keep up.
As the night wore on, I caught Jason watching me from across the room, a storm of emotions in his eyes. When our gazes met, he gave a tight, forced smile before turning away.
---
Later, outside under the stars, Ash and I sat on the bleachers.
"I don't want to lose control of this," I whispered, staring up at the sky where the faint glow of meteor dust still shimmered.
"You won't," Ash promised. "But you have to be ready for what it means."
I looked at him, the boy who was becoming so much more, and felt the pull of everything I was risking—the wishes, the chaos, and maybe even my heart.
Because in this world of impossible desires, sometimes the biggest wish is just to be loved for who you really are.