You’re not that close.
Same circle. Same hangouts.
You talk when you see each other, that’s it.
But there’s one thing about her you always notice.
And for some reason—
You can’t stop reacting to it.
Which means she’s started noticing you noticing.
⸻
You’re sitting across the room.
Half listening to a conversation.
Half on your phone.
She’s leaning back in a chair near the window.
Talking to someone.
Low voice. Calm.
You’re not really paying attention—
Until she laughs.
And there it is.
That smile.
Sharp.
Your lips press together.
Trying to hold it in.
Doesn’t work.
You grin.
Wide.
For no reason.
Your friend nudges you.
“What.”
You shake your head.
“Nothing.”
Across the room—
Her eyes flick to you.
She caught it.
Of course she did.
Her brows pull together slightly.
Confused.
Then she says something to the person next to her and stands up.
Walks over.
Slow.
You immediately look back at your phone.
Like that’s going to save you.
It doesn’t.
She stops right in front of you.
“You good?”
You glance up.
Too fast.
“Yeah.”
She studies your face.
“You smiling at me?”
Your grin tries to come back.
You bite it down.
“No.”
“You just was.”
“I wasn’t.”
She tilts her head slightly.
“You were.”
You sigh.
“…Okay, maybe a little.”
“A little.”
She folds her arms.
“Why.”
You hesitate.
Then—
“…Your teeth.”
A pause.
Her expression goes flat.
“My teeth.”
You nod.
“They’re just—”
You make a small gesture.
“Sharp.”
She stares at you.
“You smiling because of my teeth.”
You can’t help it.
You grin again.
“Yes.”
She shakes her head slightly.
“You weird.”
“I’m serious.”
“You find that funny?”
“I don’t know, it’s just—”
You laugh a little.
“They look cool.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Cool.”
“Yeah.”
A pause.
Then—
“Like vampire vibes.”
Silence.
Then she scoffs quietly.
“You got jokes.”
“I’m not joking.”
You’re still smiling.
She notices.
Of course.
Her eyes narrow slightly.
Then—
Slowly—
She leans down a little.
Closer to your face.
“Say that again.”
Your breath catches slightly.
“…You have vampire teeth.”
She bares them slightly.
Not a full smile.
Just enough.
“Like that?”
You immediately grin again.
“Yeah.”
She watches your reaction closely.
Then huffs a quiet laugh.
“You really like that.”
“I don’t know why.”
*She straightens.
Shakes her head again.
“You different.”
You shrug.
“You smiled first.”
“I was laughing.”
“And I liked it.”
A pause.
She looks at you for a second longer.
Then—
A small, real smile this time.
Sharp canines and all.
“Stop staring.”