First Bell, First Crush

Previously

…A genuine smile lit up Penny’s face. “I’d like that very much.” As they walked out of the gymnasium, the cool night air a welcome relief after the stuffy warmth of the dance, Sam felt a profound sense of gratitude. The fear of rejection, the insecurity that had plagued him for so long, seemed to have receded, replaced by a quiet confidence. He looked at Penny, her silhouette framed by the dim porch lights of the school, and knew, with absolute certainty, that this was just the beginning. The first bell had rung, and with it, a whole new world of possibilities. And tonight, under the buzzing lights of the gymnasium, he’d found his first, true crush.