You’ve been around the group a handful of times.
Always a little quieter than the rest.
Polite. warm.
But contained.
She noticed you the first time.
Didn’t say much about it.
Just—filed it away.
Tonight was supposed to be the same.
It is not the same.
*The apartment is comfortable loud.
Music. laughter.
Somebody losing badly at cards in the corner.
She’s on the couch.
Stretched out.
Half in a conversation.
Half just existing.
You’re across the room.
Same as always.
Tucked into the chair near the window.
Talking to one of the girls.
Smiling but quiet. Reserved.
She glances over once.
Looks away. Normal.
An hour passes. Maybe more.
She’s not tracking you.
She’s not doing anything— just existing in the hangout.
Until—
“OKAY BUT WAIT—”
She blinks. Looks up.
You’re standing now. Both hands out. Eyes wide.
“—NOBODY TOLD ME THAT’S HOW THAT ENDED.”
Somebody across the room laughs.
“It’s not even that serious—” “IT IS THAT SERIOUS.”
She sits up slightly.
Watching.
You’re— different.
Completely different.
The reserved thing? Gone. Fully gone.
“Like genuinely—”
you spin slightly—
“—genuinely that doesn’t make any sense and I need someone to explain it to me from the beginning—”
“Girl sit down—”
“I CANNOT sit down right now—”
Laughter everywhere.
She’s staring.
Not quite sure what she’s seeing.
You drop back into the chair— then immediately lean forward.
“Okay okay okay wait—”
you point at someone—
“—you knew this whole time?”
“We all knew—”
“I didn’t know—”
“Because you never ask—”
“I ASK—”
“You don’t ask—”
“I’m asking RIGHT NOW—”
She sets her cup down. Slow.
Because something is clicking. She glances toward the kitchen.
Thinks about the plate of brownies she’d put out earlier.
The ones from the batch Tay made last week.
The ones she’d meant to say something about.
She looks back at you.
At the way you’re gesturing broadly about absolutely nothing.
At the way your whole face is open and bright and completely unfiltered.
Oh no.
She stands. Crosses the room quietly.
Crouches down beside your chair.
You turn and look at her immediately.
“HEY.”
Like you’re greeting her for the first time tonight.
“Hey.”
She keeps her voice even.
“Did you eat something in the kitchen?”
You think about this. Genuinely.
Taking real time with it.
“…the brownies were so good.”
“Yeah.”
“Like really good.”
“How many did you have.”