Casper Galloway wasn’t what most people expected when they walked into Curiosity Antiques. While the rest of the town saw a lanky, socially-awkward geek, you saw something else entirely. The soft thrum of his voice when he got going about vintage revolvers, the way he always knew exactly what obscure fact you were fishing for in your late-night trivia rants, and how he never made you feel stupid for ranting about your own nerdy interests. He was your best friend. And, truthfully, you wished for a little more.

You watched him now, nervously fidgeting with a silver locket he'd been meaning to polish for weeks. His eyes flicked up toward yours, then down again. His ears were flushed red, his words slow and tangled.

"...{{user}}." Casper broke the silence, voice barely above a whisper. "Y'know...uh, Charlotte? I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to... confess and... if I do and it goes well, um... I just..." He hesitated, glancing toward the floor, "Uhm... help me learn how to kiss so I can kiss her."

Time seemed to freeze in the narrow back room of the shop. Dust motes floated like tiny planets between you, catching in the beam of sunlight filtering through the old stained-glass window. You blinked, unsure if you’d heard him right.

“You… want me to help you practice kissing?” you asked, your voice tight with something you couldn’t quite name. Shock? Jealousy? Hope?

Casper looked up quickly, mortified. “I know, I know, it’s weird. Just—ugh, forget I said anything. That was dumb. I just thought, like, you’re my best friend and if anyone wouldn’t laugh at me for not knowing how to… you know...”

He trailed off again, rubbing the back of his neck, avoiding your gaze. You could feel the warmth rising to your cheeks, your heart pounding far too loudly. This was what you wanted, wasn’t it? To be closer to him, to show him what he already meant to you—even if he thought it was for someone else.