The air outside the auditorium was filled with laughter and cheers, but Angel had finally managed to slip away with Mira and Vicky. Her cheeks were sore from smiling, her hands slightly numb from all the handshakes and high-fives.
"I thought they'd never let you breathe again!" Mira said, laughing as she pulled Angel around the corner of the school building.
Vicky grinned, nudging Angel. "You're basically a school celebrity now. We should get you sunglasses."
Angel laughed breathlessly, her heart still racing—not from nerves, but joy. "That was insane."
"But fun," Mira said proudly. "You were incredible. Like, actually brilliant."
"Especially that final problem," Vicky added. "The judges didn't even hesitate. It was obvious—you owned it."
Angel's eyes shimmered. "I... I didn't think I could do it. Not after everything that happened recently. I almost gave up."
"But you didn't," Mira said, her voice warm. "You fought through."
Angel nodded slowly. "Yeah… I guess I did."
---
Angel came home in the school bus and she was full with excitement and as she opened the door skipping into the house her trophy in her hand.
"Dad! Mom!"
Mr. Gabriel appeared from the hallway just as Christina came in from the kitchen.
"There she is," Christina said with a beaming smile.
Mr. Gabriel opened his arms. "My champion."
Angel rushed into the hug, arms tight around him. "I won, Dad."
"I know," he said softly, holding her like she was made of glass and stardust. "I saw you. You were amazing."
Angel felt her throat tighten a little. "Thank you... for believing in me even when I didn't."
"I never stopped," he whispered. "Not for a second."
Christina joined the embrace. "We were both so proud. I may have cried. A little."
Angel laughed, tears stinging her own eyes now. "You weren't the only one."
After they pulled away, Mr. Gabriel looked at her with a thoughtful smile. "This weekend, we're going out for dinner. Anywhere you want. You earned it."
Angel grinned. "Can I pick sushi? You know I'm obsessed."
"I was hoping you'd say that," he replied.
At school the next day, the mood was electric. Posters for the End-of-Year Party were up, and whispers filled the halls about Angel's victory. Students she barely knew waved at her, some even calling her name as she walked by.
"I feel like I'm floating," Angel said, almost shyly.
"You are," Mira said. "On the cloud of academic glory."
"She's not even walking—she's gliding," Vicky added with a dramatic flourish.
Just as they turned the corner, Angel's gaze landed on a group of students by the lockers. Dan was standing there, surrounded by a few of his usual friends—rich, reserved boys who were known for keeping to themselves. He was leaning against a locker, arms crossed, eyes scanning the hallway.
And then he saw her.
Angel's stomach did a flip she didn't expect. She swallowed and looked away, but not fast enough.
Dan straightened and walked toward her, breaking away from his friends.
"Uh-oh," Mira whispered. "He's coming over."
Vicky stepped aside like it was rehearsed. "We'll just… be somewhere else."
Dan reached Angel and stopped in front of her. He looked calm, but there was a tension in his eyes that said he'd been thinking about this moment for a while.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," she replied, a little breathless.
He glanced over at the hallway. "Can we talk? Just us?"
Angel nodded, heart pounding, and followed him to a quiet corner.
Dan turned to face her. "I wanted to say sorry. For not coming up to congratulate you after the competition."
Angel blinked. "Oh. It's okay. I figured it was chaotic."
"It was. But I should've said something anyway." His gaze softened. "You were amazing, Angel."
Her heart thudded faster. "Thanks."
There was a short silence between them, but it didn't feel awkward. Just... intense.
Dan scratched the back of his neck. "So... I was thinking. Maybe we could grab dinner this Saturday. My treat. To celebrate you winning. And, you know, as a proper apology."
Angel blinked. "Dinner?"
"Yeah."
She smiled slowly. "Okay cool."
"Good, I'll pick you up at four," Dan said. Then, with a small smirk, he added, "It's a date."
And with that, he walked off.
Angel stood frozen in place, processing the words. It's a date. Did he really say that? Her cheeks burned and she couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her face.
---
That night, Angel found her dad on the couch, flipping through a magazine.
"Dad… can I talk to you?"
He looked up immediately. "Of course. What's up?"
She sat beside him, hands clenched on her lap. "So... you know the dinner we planned this weekend?"
He nodded slowly. "Yes?"
"Well... something came up. One of my friends—Dan—asked me to dinner. To celebrate. I wanted to ask if we could move our dinner to another day?"
Mr. Gabriel tilted his head. "Dan? The same boy who you said helped you process your emotions...?"
She nodded. "He's been there for me. He's quiet, kind of distant with others, but… he opens up around me."
There was a moment of silence before her father smiled gently. "You can go, sweetheart. We'll celebrate another time."
She let out a breath of relief. "Thank you."
As she got up to go to her room, Mr. Gabriel watched her with a wistful smile and murmured under his breath, "Is my daughter in love?"
Angel spun around. "What did you say?"
"Nothing," he said, chuckling as he turned back to his magazine. "Have fun, honey."
---
Meanwhile, Dan sat on his bed, his phone in hand. He'd typed and erased the same sentence three times:
> "Would you be my date for the End-of-Year Party?"
He stared at the screen, then sighed and set the phone down. "Just ask her, Saturday."
Still, his stomach churned with nerves—something he wasn't used to.
---
Elsewhere, in the sterile white of the hospital room, Isabel zipped up her jacket as Liz helped her with her bag.
"I can't believe I had to stay here for two days," she muttered. "All because of that stupid Sam."
Carly scoffed. "The whole school's been fawning over Angel since you left. It's disgusting."
Isabel's eyes darkened. "Of course they are. Little Miss Perfect, stealing the spotlight while I'm out of the picture."
Liz narrowed her eyes. "She even got Dan's attention."
Isabel's face froze.
Carly added with a smirk, "We saw him talking to her this morning. Real close."
Isabel's lips curled into a cold smile. "Let her enjoy her fairy tale."
She looked out the hospital window, her voice ice. "Because soon enough, I'll make sure she regrets ever stepping foot into Ridgewood Academy."