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As Charlie was wandering the store, looking for something out of the ordinary and unusual to wear to the art show—because what else would a person wear to an art show?—his phone chimed. Thinking it was Nick wondering where he was, he looked at it, smiling, only to have the smile disappear when he saw it was from Ben. "please charlie"

Why? What could he possibly offer Ben Hope, now or ever before? Ben had made it very clear Charlie wasn't good enough for him, wasn't what he wanted. So why now, when Charlie had moved on and found someone who really did care about him, was Ben coming back and begging for attention?

Another text came in. "i have a lot to say to you"

Charlie just bet he did. Well, whatever it was, he didn't want to hear it.

Before he could decide whether to tell Ben to leave him alone or just ignore the texts, Nick appeared in front of him, leaning on a rack of clothes. "I think I'm going to go to prom," he said thoughtfully.

Since Charlie had assumed he was—since they had, in fact, been talking about suits—this wasn't entirely a surprise announcement. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Um … would you like to, like, um, be my prom date?"

Now that was a surprise. The two of them, going to prom together, hand in hand, just like any other couple. Charlie couldn't stop smiling. "Really?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's stupid."

"No. No, it's not," Charlie said quickly. It was probably a stupid fantasy, going to prom with a boyfriend, out and together and open, but he'd had it for years, secretly. And now Nick was making it come true.

Nick smiled.

He needed to make sure Nick knew what he was getting into, though. "We might get a lot of attention. And I don't want to wear matching suits."

"Oh, me neither," Nick said, in a tone that indicated he'd never given it the slightest thought.

Okay, so Charlie was a romantic dork who dreamed about prom, and Nick was a romantic dork who never had. But they were still both romantic dorks, and that was more than enough. "Good."

"Good."

"Shall we go see where everyone else is?"

"Yeah."

They found Tao by the accessories counter, and the three of them started loading Tao up with the most ridiculous things they could find.

When the woman running the counter glared at them, they hastily put everything back exactly the way they'd found it. At a squeal from Tara, they looked toward the dressing room. Darcy had come out wearing the suit Tara had convinced her to try on, and she looked really good. Grown-up, almost, and dashing. They joined the girls, gathering round her.

Darcy looked so proud, but also a bit worried. She said she didn't think she had enough to afford it.

So Tara started taking up a collection. All of them pitched in to make sure Darcy could afford to buy the amazing suit. Charlie could just imagine the two of them at prom, and how good they'd look together.

She hurried off to pay, thanking them all as she went, and they all smiled at each other. Prom was going to be so much fun, the six of them together.

But Charlie couldn't help thinking of Isaac. Maybe he could go with James, but what if he couldn't? Then he'd be missing out on something all the rest of them got to do.

It was raining when Isaac found them outside the store. They were all standing there in couples, under shared umbrellas.

Over Tara and Darcy's excited speculation about winning "Best Dressed Couple", Elle looked into Isaac's face and asked, "Did something happen?"

"Something definitely happened," Charlie said. Isaac had kind of a stunned look on his face, like he had found something he didn't know he'd been looking for.

"Did you kiss?" Darcy sang the words.

And then Isaac completely snapped, in a way Charlie had seen only once or twice in all the time they'd known each other, and never on his own behalf. "Can you guys just shut up?" Into the silence that followed, he kept going. "Look, I get that you don't think my life is interesting unless I have some kind of romantic drama going on, but I'm sorry to break it to you, I don't like him back! Okay? You can all carry on with your day now."

He pushed past them.

"Isaac—" Charlie said softly.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm fine. I just … I don't want to talk about it."

They watched him go with concern.

"You think he's okay?" Nick asked. "I've never seen him like that."

"No, me neither," Elle said. "And I don't think he's okay."

"We should give him some space," Tara suggested. "Let him come to us if he wants to talk."

Maybe, Charlie thought. And maybe not. Sometimes people needed space … but other times leaving them alone only made them feel they had no one to talk to.

As he got dressed ready to go to the art show, Charlie texted Isaac. "you okay?"

"Fine. Just forget about it."

"you sure?" "because i'm here to talk if you need to"

"I know. Sorry I was awful."

"you weren't awful!" "everyone's allowed a bad day" "we were kind of awful", Charlie added. They had been, pestering Isaac about James. They should have left it alone unless and until Isaac told them anything.

By the time they met at the art show, everything seemed forgiven and forgotten. Nick made sure to give Isaac a hug. Charlie loved the way Nick had become part of their group, and the generous heart that made him worry about anyone who seemed unhappy or in pain.

Isaac was his usual calm, cheerful self, so Charlie hoped that whatever had been bothering him earlier had passed, or at least that he'd come to terms with it—and that if he hadn't, he'd reach out to one of them to talk. Heaven knew Isaac had sat through enough of their drama, offering advice and simply being there. He deserved their listening ears in return.

Elle came toward them, looking tall and poised and beautiful in a floaty pink dress. "Oh, wow!" Charlie said, looking at her. She had always had style, but recently she had really come into her own, taking ownership of the way she looked.

Tao rushed to hug her and then they kissed, while the rest of the group was still gushing over her look.

They separated, joining the group, and Tara asked, "How are you?"

"Nervous."

"Don't be nervous," they hastened to reassure her. "It's going to be great."

Isaac took her arm and led her into the show, while the rest of them followed.

The show was amazing. Packed with people, art lining the walls and hung down the center of the aisle. It was like nothing Charlie had ever been to before. It felt … grown up.

A girl he'd never seen before rushed up to Elle. "I love your piece. I'm so excited for it to be revealed later."

"Thank you!"

"And I can't wait to see what art you make when you start with us in September."

The girl disappeared as the rest of them took a moment to realise what she had just said.

"You got in?" Isaac asked her.

"Yeah."

"Elle!" Charlie exclaimed. Not that he'd had any doubts, but … he was so proud of her. He said so, and he and Isaac both hugged her.