Crimson Sparks

The following day, the school seemed even more alive than usual, buzzing with lingering excitement from the talent showcase. Arthur's name was still being murmured in the hallways, though now it was accompanied by curiosity rather than surprise.

Alishia entered the school grounds, spotting Arthur near the front gate. He had reverted to his usual attire: his black hoodie drawn up, hands tucked into his pockets, and his white hair obscuring his striking crimson eyes. Though he was doing his best to blend into the crowd, it wasn't working.

"Good morning, Arthur!" Alishia greeted cheerfully, walking up to him.

He glanced at her, his eyes softening slightly. "Morning."

Luke appeared out of nowhere, slinging an arm around Arthur's shoulders. "Hey, starboy! Ready to face the crowd today? Maybe sign some autographs?"

Arthur groaned, shrugging Luke's arm off. "I'm already over this."

"Don't worry, buddy," Luke teased, winking at Alishia. "I'll make sure no one mobs you."

Alishia laughed, falling in step with them as they headed inside.

By lunch, Arthur was starting to get accustomed to the curious stares, though it still irritated him. As the three of them sat down in their usual corner of the cafeteria, a group of students hesitantly approached their table.

"Um, Arthur?" one of the girls began, twirling a strand of her hair nervously. "We were just wondering... are you, like, going to be at the fall dance this weekend?"

Arthur blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't even known there was a dance coming up.

Alishia jumped in quickly. "Oh, he's definitely coming," she said with a confident smile.

Arthur whipped his head toward her. "I am?"

"Yes, you are," Alishia said firmly, her blue eyes sparkling with determination. "You've already shown everyone how amazing you are. Why not have some fun and show them you can be normal, too?"

Arthur frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the idea, but before he could protest, the group of students cheered. "That's awesome! We can't wait to see you there!"

As they walked away, Arthur turned to Alishia, his expression a mix of annoyance and confusion. "Why would you say that?"

"Because you need to go," she replied simply. "It'll be good for you. And I'll make sure it's not too overwhelming."

Arthur sighed, knowing he wouldn't win this argument. "Fine. But only because you're forcing me."

"Trust me," Alishia said with a grin. "You'll thank me later."

The week flew by, and before Arthur knew it, the night of the dance had arrived.

Arthur stood in front of his mirror, staring at the outfit Alishia had practically forced him to borrow. A sharp black suit with a crimson tie lay neatly on his bed, paired with polished black shoes. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Why am I doing this again?" he muttered to himself.

A knock at his door interrupted his thoughts. Luke strolled in, already dressed in a sleek navy suit.

"Well, well," Luke said, grinning. "Look at you, all dressed up and brooding. You're going to break some hearts tonight."

Arthur shot him a glare but grabbed the suit anyway. "If I'm doing this, I'm doing it my way."

Half an hour later, Arthur emerged from his room. His white hair was neatly styled, the suit fitting him like a glove. The crimson tie brought out the fiery hue of his eyes, which seemed to glow under the soft light.

Luke let out a low whistle. "Man, no one's going to recognize you. You look like you walked out of a magazine."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Let's just get this over with."

The school gymnasium had been transformed into a glittering wonderland, with twinkling lights and shimmering decorations casting a magical glow over the space. Students filled the room, dressed in their finest attire, laughter and music filling the air.

When Arthur entered, the room seemed to freeze for a moment. Conversations stopped, heads turned, and whispers spread like wildfire.

"Who's that?"

"Is he a new student?"

"No way! That's... Arthur?"

Alishia, waiting near the entrance, spotted him immediately. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in his appearance. The confident, polished Arthur standing before her was miles away from the quiet, hoodie-clad boy she'd first met.

"You clean up nicely," she said, walking up to him with a warm smile.

Arthur shrugged, though a faint blush crept up his cheeks. "You're the one who made me do this."

"And I was right," Alishia said, her eyes twinkling. "You look amazing."

Luke, trailing behind Arthur, smirked. "I told him he looked like a model. Guess I wasn't wrong."

The three of them joined the crowd, with Alishia leading Arthur toward the dance floor. As they moved through the sea of students, people kept stopping to stare, some bold enough to approach him and confirm their suspicions.

"It is Arthur! I can't believe it!"

"Wow, who knew he was this good-looking?"

Arthur felt a wave of discomfort rising, but Alishia squeezed his arm reassuringly.

"You're doing great," she whispered.

Luke, meanwhile, seemed to be enjoying the attention, occasionally throwing out exaggerated compliments about Arthur's transformation.

Eventually, the music slowed, and a soft, romantic melody filled the room. Alishia turned to Arthur, her cheeks slightly pink.

"Dance with me?" she asked.

Arthur hesitated but nodded, taking her hand. As they moved to the center of the dance floor, the world around them seemed to fade.

"You're full of surprises, Arthur Virelith," Alishia said softly, her blue eyes locked onto his.

"You're the one who keeps dragging me into these things," he replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"And you're the one who keeps shining brighter every time," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arthur's heart skipped a beat, and for the first time that night, he felt at ease.

Around them, the other students watched, some whispering, others simply staring. But Arthur didn't care. For the first time, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.