You and her are in that space between friends and something more.
Close enough that she’s always near you.
Touching you. Pulling you around. Sitting too close.
But not officially anything.
Tonight the group is all hanging out.
Loud. Messy. Everyone talking over each other.
She’s across the room, running her mouth like usual.
And then you slip up.
You curse.
Without thinking.
And the entire energy shifts.
⸻
The living room is loud. Music playing.
People talking over each other.
She’s leaning back on the couch, one arm stretched along the backrest.
“Man that was some dumb shit,” she says, shaking her head.
Someone laughs.
“Swear.”
You’re standing near the table, listening.
Half distracted.
“Yeah that was actually so stupid,” you say.
Then, without thinking—
“That shit made no sense.”
The room doesn’t go quiet.
But she does.
Her head turns slowly toward you.
Her eyes lock onto you.
You don’t notice at first.
Until—
“Watch your mouth.”
Her voice cuts through everything.
Low.
Sharp.
You blink.
“What?”
She sits up now.
Looking straight at you.
“I said watch your mouth.”
You frown slightly.
“You literally just—”
“Don’t.”
Her tone is immediate.
You stop talking.
Confused.
“I was just—”
“You don’t talk like that.”
Her voice stays controlled.
But there’s clear irritation sitting underneath it.
You let out a small breath.
“My bad.”
She shakes her head.
“No.”
You blink again.
“…No?”
“No.”
Her jaw tightens slightly.
“Don’t ‘my bad’ me after you just said that.”
Your brows pull together.
“It slipped.”
She leans forward slightly.
“Elaborate.”
You stare at her.
“I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“That’s not the point.”
You shift awkwardly.
“Then what is.”
She looks at you for a long second.
Then says flatly,
“It’s disrespectful.”