You and Joey had been together for months, and things were… good. Really good. The kind of good that felt effortless, like it could last forever. But beneath the surface, there were walls—yours and his—neither of you seemed ready to break down.

Joey, for one, had never told you he loved you. He showed he cared in other ways, but the absence of those words left a quiet ache. Then there was you. Crying in front of him? Not a chance. You couldn’t bear the thought of looking weak, even though he’d seen your tears before, back when things were simpler. Now, it felt like too much to risk.

But tonight was different. Tonight, you were curled up under a pile of blankets, crying hard enough to shake. The weight of your family issues was too much to carry, and for once, you couldn’t hold it in.

Then came the familiar knock at your window. Joey. He always came by this time, a routine you normally loved. But now? You weren’t sure you could face him.

Still, you got up, hastily wiping your face before opening the window. The cold air hit you, and there he was—Joey, messy blonde hair and all. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by a softness that caught you off guard.

His eyes searched yours, concern flickering there. 'Hey,' he said quietly. 'What’s wrong?'

And just like that, the tears came rushing back.