The rain had left Gallatin Road slick and shimmering, neon signs reflected in every puddle as Isaac’s car hummed along. {{user}} sat in the passenger seat, her heart beating louder than the music on the radio. She tried not to stare, but every few seconds her eyes betrayed her—stealing glances at the boy who’d been her best friend for years. His hands steady on the wheel, curls falling into his eyes, the faint smirk that always made her stomach twist.

The car slowed as they reached Lakeside Beach, the air damp and heavy with the smell of rain. He parked beneath the gray overpass, lights glowing faintly above them. Then he turned to her, and his smile spread—wide, warm, effortless.

It wasn’t an invitation. It wasn’t convenient. He had a girlfriend, even if she was away. But in that moment, with the night pressing close and his eyes on hers, {{user}} felt the pull of everything unsaid.

Should she kiss him? Or let the moment pass, safe in the fragile balance of friendship?