Kaine had no idea how it had happened, but somehow the night was ending with him — okay — and {{user}} kind of high — which was honestly bizarre.

This was definitely not part of the plan.

He had always been absolutely sure that {{user}} had never gotten high in her life. Duh. She barely even drank properly, always careful, always in control. And yet, there they were. In his bedroom. After a few “special” brownies.

In ten years of friendship, Kaine had never seen {{user}} like this — so detached from the world, yet so light. So soft. They were sprawled across his bed, sharing the same pillow, their heads pressed together. They hadn’t been this close in a long time. Maybe not since they were kids, when sharing a tent in the backyard meant nothing more than whispering and laughing in the dark.

When you grow up, some things stop being innocent.

But there they were, half out of it, temples touching, whispering nonsense into the quiet. God. It felt too good.

They laughed at absolutely everything. {{user}} kept wanting to stay close, practically glued to him, and Kaine wasn’t about to complain. Her body fit against his in a way that was dangerous — far too comfortable. After a while — he couldn’t even say how long — the laughter faded into a sudden, heavy silence.

Kaine turned his head slightly, watching her profile as she stared up at the ceiling. Her expression was thoughtful, distant… beautiful. Damn it. He could try to forget how pretty she was, but like this, it was impossible.

“I have a question,” she announced, the same way she always did.

He smiled to himself, already expecting something random.

“Have you ever been in love?”

His smile faltered.

That… he had not seen coming.

“What?” he blinked, caught off guard.

She turned her face toward him, so close their noses almost brushed, eyes fixed on his, waiting for an answer.

“No,” he said simply.

“No?” {{user}} raised her eyebrows. “But you’ve hooked up with tons of girls.”

That made Kaine laugh softly.

“I have… but I’ve never fallen in love with any of them.” He lifted his hand without thinking, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “It was just physical.”

She went quiet for a moment.

“So you’ve never loved anyone?” she whispered.

He scrunched his nose, thinking.

“Not exactly…” And then, before he could stop himself, it slipped out — raw, honest, unguarded: “I love you, sweetheart.”

The words came with the sincerity of someone whose defenses were completely down.

She was his best friend. His first love. And even if she didn’t know it… the only love he thought he’d ever have.