two kids meet at school, have separate dates to ho
two kids meet at school, have separate dates to homecoming, but both dance together, and end up liking each other, but he is too shy to make a move. the characters names are Pineapple, and Kiwi
Pineapple had been watching Kiwi since the first day of school. He wasn’t sure what it was, but something about her bright smile and the way she laughed with her head thrown back drew him in. She was in his AP Literature class and seemed to always be surrounded by friends, yet Pineapple always felt like she was just out of reach.
Homecoming was just a week away, and Pineapple knew he couldn’t just sit there and admire Kiwi from afar. He decided to ask her to the dance, his heart hammering against his ribs as he waited for her to answer.
“You’re asking me to homecoming?” Kiwi’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s so sweet, Pineapple. But I’m already going with someone.”
Pineapple’s stomach dropped. He nodded, his smile feeling strained, and went back to his desk, wishing he could just disappear into the floor.
That night, while scrolling through Instagram, Pineapple saw a photo of Kiwi at the dance with a boy he’d never seen before. They were laughing together, their faces illuminated by the disco ball’s flashing lights. Jealousy, sharp and unexpected, stabbed at him. He couldn’t understand why she couldn’t even give him a chance.
The next day at school, Pineapple saw Kiwi sitting alone at a table in the cafeteria. He gathered his courage and walked over, his hands clammy.
“Hey,” he mumbled, feeling awkward. “I, uh, saw your picture from the dance. You looked really…nice.”
Kiwi’s face softened. “Thanks. It was…okay.” Her eyes held a hint of sadness. “It wasn’t exactly what I expected.”
Pineapple felt a glimmer of hope. He took a deep breath. “Do you…want to grab lunch sometime? Just as friends, of course.”
Kiwi smiled, a real smile this time, not a polite one. “I’d like that, Pineapple.”
The weeks that followed were filled with awkward conversations and stolen glances. Pineapple found himself looking for Kiwi in every crowd, his heart skipping a beat whenever he saw her. He wanted to say more, to express the feelings that swirled inside him, but the words always stuck in his throat.
One Friday afternoon, Pineapple found Kiwi by the library, engrossed in a book. He hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage.
“Can I borrow that book when you’re done?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Kiwi looked up, surprised. “Oh, sure! It’s actually really good. But you have to promise to read it without skipping any parts.”
They talked for a while, the book forgotten between them. They laughed at inside jokes and shared stories about their families. When the bell rang, signifying the end of the school day, they both felt a pang of disappointment.
“You should come over to my place tonight. We can watch a movie,” Kiwi said, her cheeks flushed.
Pineapple’s heart leaped. He wanted to, desperately, but fear held him back. “I, uh, I can’t. My dad’s taking me out to dinner.”
He was a terrible liar, and he knew Kiwi saw through him. She smiled sadly and said, “Okay. See you Monday.”
Pineapple walked home, his head spinning. He knew he was blowing it. He liked Kiwi, really liked her, but he was too scared to make a move. He was so busy worrying about rejection that he forgot to actually make a move.
He went to the kitchen, where his dad was unpacking groceries. “Hey, Dad,” he said, his voice flat.
His dad looked up, concern flickering in his eyes. “What’s wrong, buddy? You seem down.”
Pineapple sighed. “I’m too scared to ask someone out.” He confessed everything to his dad, from his feelings for Kiwi to his fear of rejection.
His dad smiled. “You’re not the only one who’s been there, son. Look, sometimes the best way to overcome fear is to face it head-on. What’s the worst that could happen? She says no? You can handle that. But the chance to be with someone you truly like is worth the risk.”
Pineapple thought about his dad’s words. He realized he was right. He couldn’t let his fear control him. He was going to ask Kiwi out, no matter what.
The next Monday, Pineapple waited by his locker, his heart pounding in his chest. He saw Kiwi approaching, and his stomach went into overdrive. He had to act now.
“Kiwi, I was wondering if you would…,” he started, his voice cracking.
Kiwi’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong, Pineapple? You look like you’re about to faint.”
Pineapple took a deep breath. “I like you, Kiwi. A lot. I know I’m a terrible at expressing things, but I really like you.”
He held his breath, bracing for her rejection, but all he heard was the gentle laughter of a girl who was equally as nervous.
“I like you too, Pineapple,” she confessed. “More than just a friend.”
Pineapple felt a wave of relief wash over him. “So, what do you say? Would you go out with me sometime?”
Kiwi smiled, a smile that lit up his world. “I’d love to, Pineapple. I’d love to.”
The rest of the week felt like a blur. Pineapple and Kiwi spent every moment together, their laughter echoing down the hallways. Their initial awkwardness had melted away, replaced by a comfortable ease that blossomed into something deeper, something more special.
He finally understood what his dad meant when he said that the chance to be with someone you truly like was worth the risk. He had finally found the courage to take that risk, and it had paid off in a way he never could have imagined. He wasn’t just with Kiwi, he was with someone who truly understood him, someone who made him feel like he could finally breathe. And he knew, with a certainty that warmed his heart, that this was just the beginning of their story.
