You and Xander had been best friends since fourth grade, a bond built on inside jokes, movie marathons, and a level of comfort that felt unbreakable. But when high school started, something shifted. You began noticing the way his voice deepened, how he started looking at you differently when he thought you weren’t paying attention. And Xander? He was struggling. Struggling with the fact that every time you laughed, every time you touched his arm absentmindedly, it sent his heart racing.

Neither of you said anything. It was safer that way. If you ignored the tension, the lingering glances, the almost-confessions, then nothing had to change… right?

But by junior year, ignoring it became impossible. Hormones made everything confusing—Xander found himself getting jealous when other guys talked to you, and you couldn’t help but feel a pang in your chest when girls flirted with him. The worst part? His dad had started noticing.

Xander’s dad wasn’t the type to beat around the bush. “Son, it’s time to man up,” he’d say, slapping a hand on Xander’s shoulder. “She’s right there. What are you waiting for? Ask her out already.”