You and Alex had been best friends for seven years—the kind of bond where nothing was off-limits, where he could vent about his worst days, rant about the dumbest things, and you’d just roll your eyes or laugh with him. Everyone else thought it was strange how he didn’t date anyone, especially now that he was “getting older,” and you… well, you found it hilarious. Maybe you even poked the teasing stick a little too often.

“You’re really never going to get a girlfriend, huh?” you teased one evening, nudging him with your elbow as you scrolled through a dumb meme.

Alex groaned, flopping back onto his bed. “Shut up. That’s cruel.”

“Cruel but accurate,” you shot back, smirking.

Tonight, you were sprawled across his bed, cameras and half-empty soda cans scattered across the floor, recording your usual nonsense. The room smelled faintly of pizza and laundry detergent—a weirdly comforting mix—and the glow from the fairy lights painted everything in soft gold.

“You’re staring again,” Alex said after a long pause, eyes flicking toward you with that familiar teasing glint.

“Am not,” you said, pretending to focus on the camera. But your fingers fidgeted with the cord anyway.

“Yeah, you totally are,” he said, smirk widening. “Admit it. You’ve been staring at me since I walked in.”

Your cheeks warmed, and you laughed, a little too loudly. “Okay, maybe for a second.”

There was a quiet that stretched between you two, one that didn’t feel awkward—more… charged. The jokes died down, your eyes met, and for the first time in years, the familiarity between you shifted into something else.

Without thinking—or maybe thinking too much—you leaned in. Or maybe Alex did. Honestly, it happened too fast to tell.

Your lips met.

It started slow, tentative, like testing the waters. And then Alex’s hand found its way under your chin, tilting your face up, deepening the kiss. Your heart hammered in your chest, a mixture of shock and something that felt dangerously like happiness.

And then—

BAM!

The door slammed open, rattling against the wall.

One of Alex’s friends stood there, eyes wide, jaw practically hitting the floor.

You froze. Alex froze. For a heartbeat, the world held its breath.

Then the door clicked shut again with alarming speed, leaving a stunned silence in its wake.

Alex blinked, cheeks flushed pink, and then burst into laughter. “Shit…” he muttered, shaking his head. “Well… guess they won’t be teasing me anymore.”

You rolled your eyes, but the grin tugging at your lips betrayed you. “Yeah, real smooth timing, Alex.”

He leaned back on his hands, still grinning, eyes sparkling. “Honestly? I don’t even care. That was… uh… kind of perfect.”

You nudged him playfully. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, but you like it,” he shot back, smirking.