Senior’s Night - Knox
(Knox’s perspective)

I fiddled with the collar of my black coat, adjusting my tie as I stood in the living room. Uncle was beside me, his presence always solid, always reassuring.

“How are you, Uncle?” I asked, my fingers pausing for a moment.

He sighed, his hand resting on the arm of the chair. “Well, I’ve been feeling a little unwell the past few days. Slightly feverish.” He paused, his eyes slightly tired.

I tilted my head, immediately slipping into my familiar role. “Uncle, have you been resting properly? You might be dehydrated. A lot of people miss that. Drink some fluids, take your vitamins... You could try an anti-inflammatory too, just to ease the fever.”

He raised an eyebrow at me, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You’ve really done your research, haven’t you?”

I gave a small shrug, a slight grin creeping onto my face. “It’s nothing, really. Just something I picked up.”

Uncle nodded, looking impressed. “You’re going to college soon. So, what are you studying, son?”

“I’m going to study medicine, Uncle,” I answered with a sense of certainty.

He looked at me for a long moment, pride softening the lines of his face. “Amazing, Knox. Ahh, you’ve always been so reliable since you were a child. You know, even if you and Melanie go off on separate paths to chase your dreams, I hope you two will still stay close when you’re adults. I’ll sleep easy knowing Melanie has someone who can take care of her.”

His words hit me unexpectedly, causing my chest to tighten. I stared at him, unsure if I heard him right.

“Do you mean that, Uncle?”

He turned back to me, his expression soft but far away. “Hmm?”

I leaned forward slightly, my heart racing.  “I want to be the closest one to Melanie. If I do become a doctor... can I ask for the hand of your daughter?”

I said it with conviction that uncle was left speechless.

“I’m ready!”

The room fell into an almost unbearable silence as we both turned to look at Melanie.

She descended the stairs slowly, her glittering green dress catching the light like something out of a dream. The long white gloves she wore completed the look, her beauty so effortless it made my heart pound in my chest. But I kept my face neutral, hiding the storm of emotions within.

“We already missed the food, Mel.” I said, jokingly, trying to ease the tension in the air.

Melanie pouted, her lips forming a playful line. “Hmmmph! The event hasn’t even started yet. What are you saying?”

I chuckled, stepping forward and extending my hand to her. “May I?”

She took my hand, her fingers sliding with ease into mine. The warmth of her touch sent a jolt through me. I smiled, my eyes tracing the elegant fall of her hair over her shoulders, the graceful curve of her collarbones. Her makeup was subtle but perfect, making her eyes sparkle in a way that always captivated me.

Ah, her eyes. Those deep, captivating eyes were my favorite thing about her.

This beautiful woman was my date for tonight.

Uncle’s gaze flicked between me and his daughter, his eyes narrowing just slightly. I felt the weight of his look, the silent approval—or maybe the warning—passing between us. A sigh of relief escaped him, his shoulders loosening just a bit.

“Okay, Knox,” he said, his voice gruff but laced with affection. “Don’t forget to bring my daughter back in one piece, okay?”

“Yes, Uncle,” I replied, my voice steady, despite the excitement swirling inside me.

The night had just begun.

"So, what did you and Dad talk about while I was gone?" Melanie asked, her voice light and curious as she adjusted the strap of her dress.

"Well, nothing much," I replied, trying to keep things casual. "He said he wasn’t feeling well, so I suggested a few things."

"Yeah. He doesn’t drink water often. Did you tell him that too?" she asked, clearly concerned for her dad’s health.

"I did. Uncle really likes coffee. First thing in the morning. It’s like his water." I chuckled, knowing full well how true that was.

"I know right? Ahhhh, I really love dressing up!" she exclaimed, her smile infectious as she twirled in her dress.

I laughed softly, unable to tear my eyes away from her.

We arrived at the venue, and the buzz of activity was immediate. I felt a surge of happiness as I glanced at Melanie. I was so glad to bring her along tonight. It seemed like everyone I knew—classmates, teammates, people from the Karate club—were here, and almost everyone already knew Melanie.

The DJ cranked up the volume, and the music flooded the room, a perfect invitation to dance. I took her hand, slipping my arm around her waist, drawing her close.

Melanie.

The girl I’d watched grow up. My childhood friend.

I loved taking her to parties because I knew she loved to dance. I loved seeing her smile.

But what she didn’t know was that…

 I’d fallen for her. Hard.

I love her.

But when did it begin? Was it the first time we met? I remember the mom bunny you guys have gave birth to cute little bunnies and I, wanting a pet bunny and asking your mom for permission. She told me to ask you first, but you were so sassy and said no without a second thought. I felt a little upset, but now I wonder—did you catch my attention then? Was it the way you were so unapologetically bold that made me start to like you?

Or was it that camping trip with our families, when we got lost in the woods? I was terrified of the dark, but you were the one who held my hand, leading me with such quiet bravery. You made me feel safe, even when everything seemed so uncertain.

Maybe it was the time you asked me to open a chocolate bar for you. After I did, I teased you by eating it right in front of you, and you just smacked me playfully over and over. Was it the way you reacted—so carefree, so unbothered—that drew me in?

Or was it the little things, like the way your face changes when I tease you, or how you always seem to gravitate toward me whenever you see me? I never thought much of it before, but now I realize, I liked it. I liked how you’d always end up right at the gate when class ended, as if you were waiting for me.

And maybe, just maybe, it was the way you say my name. There's something about it—the way it sounds when it comes from your lips—that feels different, like it holds a thousand unspoken things between us.

I love her. But when did it truly start?

But I also knew… she likes someone else.

And so, I promised myself not to interfere.

I wouldn’t risk what we had. Our friendship, the bond that felt like family. It was better to stay in this role, as her childhood friend, for now.

For now, I would savor the moment. Tonight, she was mine. Tonight, she was all for me.

After a few dances, we wandered over to the food buffet. Melanie’s eyes lit up at the sight of all the desserts. She had the sweetest tooth, always going for the sugary treats first. I loved watching her enjoy the food. It made me smile.

We stepped outside for a breather, the night air cool and refreshing. The venue had a beautiful fountain, coins scattered in the water, shimmering under the light. We sat near it, the sounds of the party echoing softly in the distance.

Melanie had a plate piled high with sweets, while I held her drink in my hand. Her hair had fallen over her face, the side bangs getting in the way of her eating. I couldn’t help but laugh.

"You’re gonna eat your hair too," I teased, grinning as I leaned closer to fix her hair, gently tucking the strands behind her ear.

Melanie froze, her gaze meeting mine, and for a split second, time seemed to stretch.

Her eyes.

I pulled away, my heart suddenly racing. I looked down, trying to shake off the feeling.

"What’s wrong?" she asked, her voice soft, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Nothing," I replied quickly, too distracted by the way my chest was tightening. How could she be so beautiful?

She didn’t seem to notice, happily munching away on her desserts. "These are delicious! Thank you for making me your partner tonight. I wouldn’t have gotten to eat all this!"

I laughed. "Haha, you only cared about the food. It’s so like you."

"And dressing up! You know that!" she teased, nudging me playfully. "But seriously, I’m really gonna miss you, Knox."

My heart sank just a little, a small ache forming. She didn’t know how much I wished she’d miss me the way I missed her.

"You have Matt," I said softly, almost bitterly. "You’ll be fine."

She shook her head, her smile faltering. "That’s not true. We’ve been together since we were kids. And now that you’re going to university, I won’t be seeing you as much."

"It’s alright," I reassured her. "It’s just one year. You’ll go to the same university, right?"

"Yeah, but I still don’t know what I want to study."

"You’ll figure it out. Just like you always do. Let me know, okay?"

Suddenly, a cat darted out from nowhere, running straight toward Melanie. She gasped, losing her balance as the cat jumped into her lap. I instinctively reached out, grabbing her back to steady her before she could fall.

"That was close," I muttered under my breath, relieved she was alright.

But before either of us could react, a large dog came bounding towards us, causing both of us to topple backwards. We landed with a splash—right into the fountain.

"My food!" Melanie cried out, still holding her plate of desserts.

I managed to grab her just before we hit the water, pulling her into me. The next thing I knew, her face was inches from mine, her sparkling eyes wide in surprise. We both froze, a blush spreading across our faces.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, breaking the tension. "Well, this is one way to cool off."

I stood up quickly, offering my hand to her. "Come on, let’s head to the locker room. I’ve got some spare shirts."

Melanie’s Perspective

We made our way to Knox’s locker room, the quiet hum of the party fading as we stepped inside.

"Are you sure I’m okay to be here?" I asked, glancing around awkwardly.

"No one’s in here, so it should be fine," Knox reassured me, his voice soft but steady.

He placed a towel on my head, carefully drying my hair. I could feel my cheeks warm up under his touch.

"I can do it," I said, but he shook his head.

"Just let me do it."

I paused, feeling strangely comforted by his gentle insistence. I let him continue, offering him my hair to dry.

He handed me his oversized jacket, and I slipped it on, grateful for the warmth. Luckily, I had spare shorts with me.

Knox was changing his shirt, and I couldn’t help but notice how different he looked without one—broad shoulders, a solid build, his body clearly shaped by years of our martial arts. It made me feel… flustered.

I quickly looked away, my heart beating faster for reasons I couldn’t explain.

Knox walked over to me, still without his shirt, and I couldn’t help but look at him. He seemed so carefree, so at ease in his own skin.

"You look so small in my jacket," he said, pulling up the hood and tightening the strings so I could barely see his face.

"Hey!" I protested.

 "You stared too much at my body, you perv."

It got me conscious, suppressing my feelings.

Knox’s Perspective

Growing up with Melanie felt like breathing
natural, unnoticed, necessary.
We’d been alone in rooms,
alone in forests,
once even lost beneath a canopy of stars on a camping trip,
laughing instead of panicking.
That was us, always just us.
Until now.
Until I started noticing the quiet in a different way.
Until I realized what the quiet had been trying to say all along.

She’s standing in front of me now,
wearing my jacket like it’s always belonged to her.
The sleeves hang past her wrists,
and for some reason, that breaks me a little.

Something stirs inside me
flickering, fleeting,
a feeling I’m too late to name.

So I hug her.
Not the casual kind we’ve always shared.
Not the kind you give when it’s hello or goodbye.
This one is something else
It’s like letting go.

Because I know now.
I know she feels something for Matt.
I’ve seen it in her eyes,
that soft light that was not meant for me.

And I won’t be the reason she hesitates.
I care too much for that.
So maybe, just maybe…
one last hug won’t hurt.

I hold her too tight.
She laughs, breathless.

“Knox, I can’t breathe!”

I let go, chuckling, even though my chest feels hollow.
“Oh, sorry. My bad.”

I reach for her hand, a familiar anchor in a moment that feels like goodbye.
“Come on,” I say,
masking the heaviness in my chest with a grin.
“Let’s go back to the party.”