Mia leaned against a tree at the edge of the park, watching as Adrian approached, hands tucked in his pockets, his usual confidence slightly dimmed by the gravity of the situation. She straightened up, ready to get to work.
"Alright, Adrian," Mia began as he reached her. "Before we get into this plan of mine, I need to know—are you serious about Gianna?"
Adrian blinked, caught off guard. "Of course I am."
"I mean really serious," Mia pressed, crossing her arms. "Because if you're not, then I'm not wasting my time helping you. Gianna's my best friend, and I won't let you mess with her head. So, are you ready to answer some questions?"
Adrian let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "Sure. Ask away."
The next fifteen minutes felt like a grilling session.
Mia asked everything from why he liked Gianna, to what he thought about their future, to how he planned to make things right. Adrian answered each question honestly, even when they felt personal or awkward.
When Mia finally nodded, her face softening slightly, Adrian let out a relieved chuckle. "I feel like I just interviewed for a job," he said, shaking his head.
"You kind of did," Mia replied with a smirk. "Now that I know you're not going to flake, here's the plan."
Adrian leaned in, intrigued but slightly wary.
Mia explained her idea, her eyes lighting up with excitement. The school dance was only a week away, and she suggested that Adrian make it a moment Gianna would never forget.
"Step one: you need to surprise her," Mia began. "Not just with something basic like flowers or a cute text. I'm talking a full-on, over-the-top, 'I put my heart into this' surprise. Make it romantic, make it bold, and make it something only you could do for her."
"Okay…" Adrian said slowly, nodding. "Like what?"
"That's up to you. But you need to make it personal—something that shows you know her, that you've been paying attention to what she loves and what makes her happy. Think big, Adrian."
"Big," Adrian repeated, rubbing his chin. "Got it. What's step two?"
"Step two: ask her to the dance. Not in a casual, 'hey, want to go?' kind of way. You need to make it special—like a movie moment. Something so unforgettable, she won't even think about saying no."
Adrian's brows furrowed as he processed the plan. "And you think this will work?"
Mia grinned. "Trust me. I know Gianna better than anyone. If you pull this off, she'll see how much you care."
Adrian left the park with his mind racing. Mia's plan was bold, maybe even a little crazy, but he was determined to make it work. He'd already hurt Gianna once, and he wasn't going to let her slip through his fingers again.