Katie Torres had planned the sleepover down to the last glittery detail snacks stacked in rainbow colored bowls, face masks with silly animal prints, playlists filled with every danceable pop anthem, and enough blankets to turn the entire living room into a pillow kingdom.

She’d been looking forward to it for weeks. Not just because she loved the chaos and laughter that came with having all her friends under one roof but because you were coming too.

You weren’t just any friend. You were her person, the one she could talk to for hours without noticing time passing. The one who made her laugh so hard her stomach hurt. The one Katie found herself looking at a little too long when everyone else was distracted.

That was the part she never said out loud.

So when the doorbell rang and she opened it to find you standing there, hoodie tied around your waist and overnight bag slung over your shoulder, Katie had to remind herself to breathe like a normal human.

The night started like every other sleepover makeovers, truth or dare, someone spilling nail polish on the rug, someone else attempting a TikTok dance and immediately regretting it. But somewhere between the popcorn fights and whispered secrets, Katie kept finding her gaze drifting to you. And every time, you were already looking at her too.

Later, when the others had finally crashed in a sleepy pile of limbs and blankets, you and Katie were the only ones still awake sitting cross legged on the kitchen floor with mugs of cocoa, trying to outdo each other with embarrassing childhood stories.

Katie swirled the marshmallows in her cup, hesitating before she said, “Can I tell you something? And you can’t laugh.”

Your brows lifted in mock offense. “I would never.”

She bit her lip. “Okay. So… I kinda planned this whole sleepover just to have a reason to spend time with you. Like, just you.”

You blinked, and for a second Katie panicked until your lips curled into the softest smile.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” you whispered.

Katie’s heart felt like it might launch itself through her ribs. “Really?”

“Yeah. I’ve kind of… liked you for a while.”

Neither of you moved for a moment, the quiet settling like a secret shared. Then Katie leaned in, brushing your pinky with hers, the softest kind of touch.

It wasn’t dramatic or movie perfect. It didn’t need to be.

Because in the middle of that messy, laughter filled house, Katie had finally gotten the only thing she really wanted that night you.