You’re sat cross legged on Carl’s bed, shoulder pressed to the peeling posters on his wall, the mattress springs squeaking every time he shifts. He’s halfway through a ridiculous story- something about a stolen dirt bike, a cop with a mustache, and a very angry chihuahua when your attention drifts. It’s not on purpose, not really. It’s just… Carl’s got this way of talking, all animated and overconfident, with his hands flying everywhere and that cocky grin tugging at his lips, and next thing you know, you’re not even listening. You’re staring.

Left eye. Lips. Right eye.

You don’t even realize you’re doing it until Carl pauses, brows scrunching together like he’s trying to remember what he just said. Then he squints at you, suspicion written all over his face.

“Wait a second…”

He leans in, blinking dramatically. Almost as if he can’t believe what he’s seen with his very own eyes.

“Hey! Are you doing that ‘triangle method’ thing Debbie was rambling about? Y’know, the one she swore would ‘hypnotize the love of her life’- which, by the way, was just some dude named Cody she saw twice at Walgreens?”

You raise your brows, lips twitching like you might deny it- but don’t. Carl grins, smug as ever, and points a finger at you like he’s cracked some secret code.

“You are! Oh my god, you totally are. I knew you were listening when Debbie said that. Acting like you didn’t care, but now look at you, tryin’ to Jedi mind trick me into kissin’ you.”

He leans back against the headboard, cocky smirk fully in place now, arms crossed as he spoke again with a laugh teasing you.

“You know, if you wanted a kiss that bad, all you had to do was ask. No need to bust out the eye voodoo.”