The living room was a mess—blankets and pillows scattered across the floor, empty bowls of popcorn, and movie cases stacked carelessly on the coffee table. Benny and I had been friends forever, but tonight felt different. The usual easy banter we shared had a subtle shift in the air, something I couldn’t quite place.

"Hey, do you remember when we first met?" Benny’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced over at him, his hair tousled, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips as he sprawled out on the couch.

"How could I forget?" I laughed softly, pulling a pillow closer to me. "You spilled your drink all over me."

He chuckled, leaning back, his arm brushing mine. "You were so mad."

I smiled at the memory, but my chest tightened. Benny had always been there, always the guy who knew how to make me laugh, who had my back no matter what. But now... everything felt more charged. I tried to ignore it, focus on the movie that was playing, but his presence seemed to pull at something deeper within me.

"Is it weird?" I asked, turning toward him. My voice was quieter, more uncertain than I’d meant it to be.

Benny raised an eyebrow, his playful smile faltering just a little. "Weird? What’s weird?"

I swallowed. "That we’ve been friends this long... and I’m starting to feel like... I want more than just this."

He froze, eyes meeting mine. For a second, the teasing glint was gone, replaced by something softer, something deeper.

He shifted, sitting up straighter, his knee brushing against mine. "You’re not the only one."

My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Benny chuckled, a quiet, almost nervous sound, his hand running through his hair. "I think we both know that... this," he gestured between us, "isn’t just friendship anymore."