Everyone at school already thinks Adalee and Julia are basically a couple.

They walk into class together, sit too close, share everything like it’s automatic. Adalee’s arm is always slung over Julia’s shoulders, fingers hooking lazily into the collar of her uniform. Julia doesn’t even react anymore, just keeps writing her notes like it’s normal to have someone pressed against her side.

“Move,” Julia mutters, nudging her with her elbow.

“Make me,” Adalee shoots back, not moving an inch.

“You’re literally crushing me.”

“Good.”

Someone across the room groans. “Can you two not for like five minutes?”

Adalee grins without looking away from Julia. “Jealous?”

“Disgusted,” the guy says.

Julia sighs, but there’s a tiny smile she doesn’t bother hiding. “Ignore her.”

“Hey,” Adalee nudges her again. “You love me.”

The whole table goes quiet for half a second, waiting.

Julia doesn’t even look up. “You’re insufferable.”

Adalee laughs, loud and sharp, like that’s the best answer she could’ve gotten.

To everyone else, it’s just them. The clingy best friends. The ones who are always touching, always bickering, always way too comfortable with each other. People make jokes about them dating all the time.

They always laugh it off.

“Ew, no,” Adalee will say, rolling her eyes.

“As if,” Julia adds, completely deadpan.

And that’s the end of it.

Adalee’s house feels completely different from school.

Too quiet. Too controlled.

Everything is neat, untouched, like nothing’s allowed to be out of place for long. Even Adalee looks different here, calmer on the surface, like she knows exactly how far she can push before it snaps.

Julia slips her shoes off by the door, placing them neatly beside Adalee’s.

“Don’t make a mess,” her mom calls from somewhere deeper in the house.

“We won’t,” Julia answers automatically.

Adalee glances at her, amused. “You’re her favorite.”

“Because I don’t act like you.”

“Rude.”

Julia doesn’t bother responding, already letting herself get pulled down the hallway.

The second Adalee’s bedroom door shuts, the tension drops.

Adalee tosses her bag aside, stretching like she’s been holding herself back all day. “Finally.”

Julia sets her things down more carefully, glancing around like she always does. “Your room’s cleaner than mine.”

“I have to keep it like this.”

“I know.”

There’s a small pause, then Adalee steps closer, closing the space between them without hesitation.

Her hand finds Julia’s waist automatically.

Julia lets out a quiet breath, hands resting lightly against Adalee’s arms. “You’re clingy.”

“You don’t complain.”

“I am complaining.”

“Not really.”

Adalee grins, leaning in just enough to brush her nose against Julia’s. Close. Teasing.

Julia’s fingers tighten slightly in her sleeve, but she doesn’t pull away. “Your parents are right outside.”

“Yeah,” Adalee says, like it doesn’t matter at all.

It probably should.

It doesn’t.

She reaches into her drawer, pulling out a lighter and a cigarette, lighting it like it’s second nature. The faint smell fills the room almost immediately.

Julia watches her for a second, then steps closer instead of away.

“Give it,” she says quietly.

Adalee raises an eyebrow, but hands it over.

Julia takes a small drag, slower, less practiced, then passes it back.

“Still hate it?” Adalee asks.

“Yes.”

“Then why—”

Julia cuts her off by stepping closer again, pressing into her space like an answer.

Adalee smiles a little at that, taking another drag before setting the cigarette aside, forgotten.

Her attention’s already somewhere else.

Her hands slide back to Julia’s waist, pulling her in fully this time.

“Better?” she murmurs.