Bound By Hextech. (read description please)

Days passed, and Viktor found himself caught in an exhausting loop of overthinking. Every time he tried to convince himself to say yes to Jayce's invitation, doubt crept in, whispering reasons why it was a bad idea. What if he looked out of place? What if the crowd was too much? What if Jayce regretted asking him? But in quieter moments, when those fears faded just a little, he realized how much he wanted to go. Not because of the event itself, but because it was Jayce who had asked.

Finally, Viktor made up his mind. He couldn't let fear win, not this time. Prom wasn't really his scene, but the thought of saying no, and letting the opportunity pass him by, that felt worse than his nerves. He rehearsed what he would say, running the conversation over and over in his head as he walked to class. His heart pounded in his chest as he approached Jayce between periods, determination battling with his anxiety.

"Jayce," Viktor began, standing a little straighter as he caught the taller boy's attention. "About prom... i think i'll come."

Jayce turned to him with his usual warm smile, but as Viktor spoke, something in his expression shifted. It was subtle, but enough to make Viktor regret what he said for a split second.

"Oh..." Jayce said, his smile faltering slightly. "I'm actually going with Mel now." His tone was apologetic, and he scratched the back of his neck in that familiar, awkward way. "She asked me yesterday, and I didn't think you were interested..."

The words hit Viktor harder than he expected, and for a moment, all he could do was nod. His chest felt tight, disappointment settling like a heavy weight he hadn't prepared for. Still, he forced a small smile onto his face, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Of course," Viktor said quietly, his voice steady despite the ache he felt. "That makes sense."

Jayce frowned slightly, as if he knew he'd let Viktor down but didn't know how to make it better. "I'm sorry, man. I really thought you weren't interested. But hey, you should still come. It'll be fun, I promise."

Viktor nodded again, though his mind was already elsewhere. "Yeah. Sure," he said, his tone polite but distant. He gave a quick, tight smile before walking away, leaving Jayce standing there, looking a little unsure of himself.

---

That evening, Viktor sat in his room, staring blankly at the sketches in his notebook. His pencil hovered over the page, but no ideas came to mind. The disappointment lingered, twisting in his chest in a way that felt both unfamiliar and deeply frustrating. He hated feeling this way, hated the fact that he cared so much about something he'd never even been excited for in the first place.

After a while, he closed the notebook with a sigh, his mind turning over the idea of prom again. Maybe it wasn't about Jayce anymore. Maybe it was about proving to himself that he could do something outside of his comfort zone, even if it scared him.

The next day, during their engineering club meeting, Viktor glanced across the room at Sky. She was bent over her latest project, her brow furrowed in concentration, but there was a lightness about her that Viktor always found comforting. Sky was one of the kindest people he knew, always quick with a joke or a helping hand. If anyone could make prom bearable, it was her.

After the meeting wrapped up, Viktor gathered his courage and approached her. "Sky," he began, his voice steady but a little uncertain.

She looked up, smiling brightly as she set down her tools. "What's up, Viktor?"

He hesitated for only a moment before speaking. "Would you like to go to prom with me? As friends, I mean."

Sky's eyes lit up with surprise and excitement. "Really? I'd love to go with you!" she said, her enthusiasm genuine and warm.

Relief flooded through Viktor, and for the first time in days, he felt a little lighter. He managed a real smile, one that came easily. "Thank you," he said simply, and Sky's cheerful chatter about prom plans filled the space between them, easing the last of his disappointment.