Ethan thought he'd finally get a break from all the emotional confusion. What he got instead... was a binder.
Sunday morning was supposed to be quiet.
Ethan had barely rolled out of bed when the doorbell rang. Twice. Precisely.
He cracked the door open, bleary-eyed.
Isabella Wynn stood on his porch.
Pressed uniform blouse. Crisp skirt. Ponytail so sharp it could pass as a threat.
In her arms: a thick binder.
"...Hi?" he offered.
She stepped past him like this was normal.
"It's time we align expectations," she said, walking directly to the kitchen table.
Ethan blinked. "For what?"
"For our engagement. You've been operating without a roadmap. That's inefficient."
She opened the binder with all the grace of unveiling a classified mission file. Inside were laminated pages, tabs, and color-coded graphs.
His mother, passing by with laundry, stopped in her tracks.
"Oh!" she whispered. "This is adorable."
"Mom," Ethan groaned.
"Shush, let her work."
Isabella flipped to the first page.
"These are standard milestones for high school couples. I've selected thirteen key touchpoints we've yet to complete."
She pushed a sheet forward.
Stage One – Public Familiarity
☐ Casual nickname exchange
☐ Lunch in a visible school location
☐ Photo together (unposed)
☐ Accidental hand brush (authenticity monitored)
Stage Two – Emotional Presence
☐ Public compliment
☐ Protective gesture in public
☐ Compliment without sarcasm
Stage Three – Physical Contact (Optional, Gradual)
☐ Walk side by side with shoulder contact
☐ Shared umbrella scenario
☐ Headpat (mutual consent required)
Ethan stared at the list.
Then at her.
"You made this?"
"With references cross-sourced from social media trends and teen drama formulas," she said calmly. "Also Pinterest."
He blinked again. "You have a Pinterest?"
"I research thoroughly."
His mother nearly dropped the laundry basket while trying not to laugh.
Later, after Isabella left to "schedule Item 1.2: public lunch," Ethan sat with Logan in his room, staring at the checklist.
"...She gave me a literal roadmap for dating her," he muttered.
Logan leaned in, grinning. "Dude. She is speedrunning romance."
"I don't know whether to be flattered or afraid."
"Both. Probably both."
And somehow, despite the graphs and graphs and laminated affection... Ethan kind of wanted to finish the list.