You don’t mean to end up this close to him.

It starts with the rain — heavy, sudden, the kind that makes the world blur and hush. You and Rafe were just walking back from the corner store, laughing at something stupid he said, when the sky opened up. Now you’re huddled under the half-shelter of a bus stop, soaked from the knees down, clothes clinging to your skin.

He’s sitting beside you, close enough that your arms brush every time you shift. His jacket — too small for the both of you — rests over your shoulders, more symbolic than helpful. You can feel the warmth radiating off him, steady and familiar. His knee is almost touching yours. You tell yourself you don’t notice. You’ve told yourself that a lot lately.

“Your hair’s a mess,” he says, reaching up without thinking, brushing some damp strands away from your cheeks. His touch lingers for just a second too long.

You glance at him. “So’s yours.”

His grin flashes — that lazy, lopsided smirk you’ve known since forever — and then it fades just a little. The silence between you shifts. Not uncomfortable… just heavy. Like something unspoken is hanging in the air.

The street is quiet, just the sound of rain drumming on the roof above you and the distant swoosh of cars passing too fast. Rafe’s still looking at you. Not in the usual teasing way. This is different — softer, quieter.

And then he leans in.

Slowly. Cautiously. His eyes flick to your lips and then back up to your eyes, like he’s searching for permission.

You don’t move. You don’t breathe.

And just when you think it’s going to happen — he stops. Inches away. You feel his breath, warm and shaky. His gaze breaks, and he pulls back, just barely.

“Sorry,” he mutters, voice low. “I didn’t mean to… I mean, I wasn’t thinking.”

You don’t say anything at first. The space between you feels bigger now, even though he hasn’t moved far. Your heart’s still racing, confused, expectant, maybe even a little disappointed.

He clears his throat, eyes flicking out to the street. “Guess the rain’s not stopping anytime soon.”

And just like that, you’re both pretending nothing happened.