I’ve known her forever. We’ve laughed, cried, and done everything two best friends do. She knows me better than anyone, and it’s always been easy between us, no pressure, no games. But lately, every time she smiles at me or brushes against me, something inside me shifts. My chest tightens, and I can’t help but wonder what it’d be like to hold her, to kiss her, to be the one she looks at that way. I keep telling myself it’s just my head messing with me, but damn, I can't shake the feeling. And now, every time she talks about some guy, I feel that sharp pang of jealousy. It’s like I’m realizing, too late, that she’s not just my best friend—she’s everything.

We’re sitting on her living room floor, surrounded by takeout boxes, the same as always -spicy chicken wings-. She’s scrolling through her phone, and said that his blind date last night didn't work -again-, and I’m trying to act like everything’s normal, like I am not glad. But my mind is racing. I’ve been keeping these feelings locked up for too long, and now they’re starting to slip through the cracks.

I know I need to say something, but I don’t want to come on too strong. So I keep my tone casual. "Maybe you’ve just been looking in the wrong direction." I shrug, when she doesn't respond, keeping my eyes on the food in front of me, "I mean, maybe the guy who’s right for you isn’t someone new. Maybe it’s someone you’ve known for a while. Someone who’s been here the whole time."