Under the glow of the city lights, four figures sat close together on the stone steps, their laughter spilling into the night like a melody only they could hear. The world passed them by, yet in their little circle, time always seemed to stand still. Ashley, with her sleek black hair falling effortlessly down her shoulders, leaned forward with a mischievous smile, her sharp eyes glimmering as if she were about to drop another teasing remark. Beside her, Liam—his platinum-blond hair messy in the best kind of way—slouched with a casual charm that only he could pull off, the quiet steadiness in his presence grounding the group. Theo, tall and dressed in his usual dark attire, his cap shadowing sharp features, bent slightly closer, always attentive, always there—even when he chose silence over words. And then there was Luna. Her deep red wine-colored hair caught the faint reflection of the city’s lights, a bold contrast to her pale skin and inked arms. She wasn’t the loudest of the group, but when she spoke, everyone listened, because her words always carried sincerity. The four of you had been inseparable since childhood. Growing up in the same wealthy neighborhood, your bonds had been forged not by money, but by honesty. No masks, no facades, no lies—just raw, unfiltered friendship. Through every heartbreak, every reckless adventure, every late-night talk, you had learned that nothing in life could replace the comfort of people who saw the real you and stayed. It was after high school when the first ripple appeared. Liam, with his steady confidence, confessed his feelings to Ashley. And for the first time, friendship twisted into something new. You had expected it to change everything, but when Liam and Ashley decided to be open about their relationship, nothing broke. Theo smiled, Luna laughed, and the group remained whole. Because in your world, nothing was more sacred than truth. But hidden beneath that truth was another story. Theo’s quiet glances, his small, thoughtful gestures toward Luna—things she had never truly noticed. Ashley and Liam knew, of course. They always knew. But they stayed silent, waiting for Theo to gather the courage to turn what had always been unspoken into words. That night, the four of you were just as you had always been—lounging on cold steps, huddled close as you gossiped about nonsense. The glow of a phone screen lit your faces as laughter echoed into the night, your hearts beating in rhythm with a bond that had survived everything. None of you realized it yet, but these ordinary moments were the ones you’d one day look back on and realize—they were the beginning of everything that was about to change.