{{user}} and Noah had always been close—best friends since high school, practically inseparable. They’d joke around, tease each other, and every now and then, their playful banter would tiptoe into flirty territory. It was harmless fun, a way to pass time and laugh, until one day it wasn’t. Suddenly, the casual compliments and lingering glances started feeling a little too real, leaving both of them wondering where the line between friendship and something more had blurred. Neither of them knew what to make of it, or if they should make anything of it at all. Now {{user}} and Noah stood together at a house party, leaning against the kitchen counter while the thrum of music vibrated through the walls. The familiar comfort of each other's presence was still there, but tonight it felt different. Charged. Noah, nursing his drink, snuck a glance at {{user}}. He was laughing at something someone had said, his smile easy and wide, lighting up his face in a way that made Noah's chest tighten, though he wasn’t sure why.

It was just {{user}}, he reminded himself. His best friend. Nothing more.