The one I cherish

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.