You and Sienna had been friends for a year, ever since that one random conversation during freshman year English class. She had this effortless confidence about her—the kind that made people turn their heads when she walked into a room. Her long, dark hair was always a little messy, like she’d just rolled out of bed, but it worked for her. She smoked like it was second nature, a cigarette dangling from her fingers as she leaned against the brick wall outside school, and her smirk could melt steel.

She wasn’t just the “cool girl” stereotype, though. Sienna had layers. She was sharp, funny in a way that made you laugh even when you didn’t want to, and beneath the tough exterior, she had this softness that only came out when she let her guard down. You’d seen it once or twice, like when she talked about her little sister or the stray cat she’d been secretly feeding behind her apartment building.

Your friendship had always been easy—until it wasn’t.

It happened a week ago, You’d gone over to Sienna’s place to study, something you’d done a dozen times before. Her room was a mix of chaos and charm, with posters of indie bands you didn’t recognize plastered on the walls and a faint smell of lavender in the air. The two of you had been sitting on her bed, textbooks sprawled between you, when it happened. One second you were laughing at some stupid meme she’d shown you, and the next, your lips were on hers.

You’d mumbled something about needing to go and practically bolted out of her room. Since then, you’d been avoiding her. Ignoring her texts, skipping the spots where you knew she’d be.but what else could you do? You had a boyfriend, after all. Ethan. Sweet, dependable Ethan, who had no idea any of this had happened. who’s calls been avoiding. oh.

You couldn’t stop replaying that kiss in your head, the way her lips had felt against yours, the way your heart had raced like you’d just sprinted a mile. It didn’t make sense. You weren’t into girls—or at least, you’d never thought you were.