Page 33 of As You Walk On

I settle on a compilation video with a high viewer count. It hits all the cliché check marks—over-the-top cuteness, poorly constructed signs, super-cheesy music—but I can’t stop the way myheart races. Ninety percent of the clips are of straight couples, and yet... I can picture myself in every scenario. Putting myself out there. Waiting for Christian to shout, “Yes!”

I’m so distracted I don’t notice the next video automatically cueing up is from the Brook-Oak YT channel.

It’s another compilation. TitledWORST PROMPOSAL IDEA. A user named NotThatZain posted it. The tiny channel icon reveals itisthat Zain, though. The one from the Rolling Tones.

Despite being uploaded six hours ago, it hasn’t been taken down yet. Maybe no one’s reported it? The video has already amassed two thousand views.

It’s a four-minute-and-thirty-seven-second car wreck set to Lorde’s “Supercut.” A meticulously spliced-together anthology of Luca and Devya’s relationship through photos from their Instagram accounts along with excerpts fromthatpromposal.

“Oh, fuck.”

I want to look away, but I can’t.

This is art. The magic indie films are made of. From chaste kisses to sofa cuddling to sharing iced coffees at Starbucks, all interrupted by scenes of Devya’s cringe face during the promposal. For everyaww, red-heart-emoji moment, you’re hit with another angle of Luca flat on his ass as another boy swoops in to steal his spotlight. To my utter shock and humiliation, there’s even a few zoomed-in cuts of me—eyes bulging, brow raised, jaw unhinged—sprinkled in.

Perfect reaction GIF or meme material.

My timer goes off as the video ends on a slow-motion close-up of Luca’s distraught face.

The comments section is outrageous. Skull emojis, copious amounts of LOLs,thoughts and prayers, andwhat’s his @?I barely scroll halfway before catching way too much secondhand embarrassment to continue.

I stare at Luca’s paused face. He looks nothing like the boy I saw dancing with Makayla. Maybe he’s already over Devya? That’s all high school relationships are, right? A good time, a bad breakup, a quick transition to the next.

At least, for Luca’s sake, I hope so.

I jolt when, out of nowhere, the bedroom’s doorknob jiggles. Once, twice. Then a wave of hallway light singes my retinas as the door flings open. Slowly, my vision adjusts. I squint at someone standing in the entryway.

“Luca?”

I take in a pair of dark brown eyes, confused pout,Food Vibes OnlyT-shirt, and silver rings on his fingers before Luca replies, “I need the bathroom.”

“Um... TMI.”

“Not like that,” he says, his voice strained. “I need to—”

“Dude, it’s your business,” I say, hands raised, “not mine.” I grin broadly. A hint of déjà vu hits me. It reminds me of the last conversation Christian and I had, except I’m not the one looking like he needs to poop.

The hallway light still irritates my eyes, so I say, “Could you maybe close the door?”

He obliges with a sigh.

“This house is a maze. The bathrooms on the main floor are clogged. There’s a line in the basement. Every door up here’slocked. And—” He pauses to take a breath, cheeks flushed. “This wouldn’t be a problem if Aja hadn’t spilled an entire cup of beer on mypants!”

Sure enough, one quick glance reveals the darkened stain around his... er, crotch.

I quickly bring my eyes back up.

“I smell like Coors Light!” His face scrunches. It’s kind of adorable. “My nuts are cold. And all of this happened right in front of Devya.”

I bite down on my knuckles to silence my amusement. Oh, the irony. But he clearly doesn’t get the humor.

“Luca, you literally—and figuratively—handed me my nuts back at SpeedEx.” I shake my head. “This is karma. The universe has spoken. ‘Thou shall not disrespect Theodore Wright’s balls.’ It’s hilarious!”

“I just need the bathroom.” Luca exhales.

I jerk my head behind me. “Have at it.”

The door slams shut behind him.

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