Matt and Ellie had fought before.

Everyone knew that. Their arguments were practically a tradition in their friend group. Petty insults, sarcastic comments, the kind of tension that snapped and cooled off within an hour.

But this one was different.

This one exploded.

It started with something small. It always did. A sharp comment from Matt. Ellie snapping back. Then suddenly neither of them were holding back anymore. Months of frustration, jealousy, things they never said out loud came spilling out all at once.

They ended up outside, the party noise muffled behind the door.

Rain poured from the sky, heavy and relentless, soaking through their clothes in seconds. Neither of them moved to go back inside.

“Why do you care so much about what I do?” Ellie shot back, voice breaking slightly. “You act like I ruin everything just by being there.”

Matt ran a hand through his soaked hair, pacing a few steps before turning back to her. “Because you do!”

Her face fell.

“Wow,” she whispered. “That’s really what you think of me?”

“That’s not—” he groaned, frustrated, words tangled in his throat. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean, Matt?” she demanded. “Because you’ve treated me like I’m some huge problem for years.”

Rain dripped from her hair, from her lashes, from the hem of her jacket as she stood there waiting.

Matt stared at her like the answer was clawing its way out of his chest.

“Because I can’t stand it!” he finally shouted.

Ellie blinked. “Can’t stand what?”

“You,” he said, voice cracking with frustration. “I can’t stand that every time you walk into a room I notice you. I can’t stand that you’re always in my head, or that I care about what you’re doing and who you’re with.”

The rain hammered harder against the pavement around them.

Matt laughed bitterly, shaking his head.

“God, Ellie, I tried hating you. It would’ve been so much easier.”

She stared at him, breath caught in her throat.

“Then why didn’t you?” she asked softly.

Matt looked at her like the answer was obvious.

“Because,” he said hoarsely, stepping closer, rain streaming down his face, “fuck, I love you.”

The words hung in the storm between them.

For a second neither of them moved.

Then Ellie closed the distance and grabbed the front of his soaked shirt, pulling him down into a kiss that tasted like rain and years of unresolved tension.

Matt froze for half a heartbeat before his hands came up to her waist, pulling her closer like he’d been waiting his entire life to do it.

The rain kept pouring.

But neither of them cared anymore.