Everyone in the friend group had accepted two facts as absolute truth.

Matt was pure black cat energy.

Ellie was a walking golden retriever.

And somehow… they fit.

Ellie was sunshine in human form. Always smiling, always talking, always touching. Hugging everyone. Laughing too loud. Caring too much.

Matt was quiet. Observant. Sharp around the edges. He didn’t waste words, didn’t show emotion easily, didn’t let many people close.

Except Ellie.

Whenever she threw her arms around him, his wrapped around her automatically, like muscle memory. When she complained about being cold, his hoodie was already halfway off. When they walked anywhere, their hands found each other without thinking.

They insisted they were just friends.

No one believed them.

Chris watched them one afternoon, Ellie curled into Matt’s side, his arm resting lazily around her shoulders.

“I can’t keep pretending this is normal,” he muttered.

Nick nodded. “They’re basically married.”

Madi grinned. “We need to intervene.”

So later, when Ellie disappeared to grab drinks, they cornered Matt.

“You need to take her on a date,” Madi said.

Matt blinked. “No.”

Chris groaned. “Dude, you hold her hand like it’s your lifeline.”

“That’s different.”

Nick raised a brow. “How?”

Matt crossed his arms. “She’s Ellie.”

“That explains nothing.”

“It explains everything,” he shot back.

Madi softened. “She likes you, you know.”

Matt’s jaw tightened. “I know.”

“Then why—”

“Because if I mess this up,” he said quietly, “I lose her. And I’m not risking that.”

Silence settled.

Then Ellie came bouncing back, immediately tucking herself against his side.

“You guys done plotting?” she asked cheerfully.

Matt sighed, dropping his arm around her shoulders.

“Unfortunately.”

She giggled, hugging him tighter.

And just like that, everyone knew.

Black cat or not, Matt was already hopelessly gone.

He just hadn’t admitted it yet.