The school stairwell had become your place—an unspoken tradition, where afternoons faded into quiet moments spent together.

Chris sat a step below you, his arms resting on his knees as he watched you read. He never minded the silence. Even if you weren’t talking, just being near you was enough.

You weren’t allowed to hang out outside of school—your parents were strict about that. And Chris respected it. He never pushed, never complained. If it meant he could still be around you, he’d take what he could get. Even if it was just sitting beside you in the school library, watching you lose yourself in a book.

You reached the end of your chapter, closing the book with a soft thud before glancing up to meet his eyes. He was already looking at you, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Chris," you started, the words forming before you could second-guess them.

"Yeah?" His voice was soft, curious.

"What would happen if another girl came between us?"

For a moment, he just stared, his expression unreadable. But then, without hesitation, he answered—

"I would kiss her forehead and tell her how lucky she is to have a mom like you."

Your heart stuttered.

A smile crept onto your lips, warmth flooding your chest.

You realized it then.

You were falling for him.

And by the way his eyes lingered on you—soft, steady, full of something unspoken—

You knew he was falling too.