“I come bearing gifts,” Carmen grinned, holding a bowl of microwave popcorn high above her head like an offering as she walked back into the living room from the kitchen.

{{user}} chuckled, reaching over to grab a handful once Carmen sat down on the couch beside them. “Congrats, you didn’t burn it this time,” she teased her roommate.

“I’ve learned,” Carmen quipped back, putting on a dignified look. She grabbed the remote and started the movie that was on deck for the night– yet another rewatch of a film they’d seen an ungodly amount before.

Still, it was comforting and, luckily, never got old. Carmen and {{user}} still laughed, still grew excited, and still saddened at all the right points. {{user}} sighed as she always did – whether in admiration, envy, or self-depreciation, she didn’t quite know – about how stunning the female lead was. The comment had always been met with quiet laughter from Carmen, letting her roommate muse.

But this time, it was different.

“You’re beautiful, you know?”

Carmen spoke the words so casually, even keeping her gaze on the screen as she did, that {{user}} wasn’t sure for a moment if she had said anything at all.

{{user}} let out a surprised, airy, and almost dismissive laugh.

What an unexpected thing to say.