you and natalie have been together for a while now. she’s not the type to say cheesy things—you figured that out early on; she shows love more than she says it. you can see it when she waits for you to fall asleep first, when she hates seeing anything (or anyone) hurt you, when she does things for you without asking. honestly, you could go on all day listing her acts of service.

but tonight, there’s a certain sweetness in the air. you’re lying close together, in a silence that feels warm rather than awkward.

out of nowhere, natalie looks at you with a small smile. her voice is unusually soft as her fingers gently run through your hair.

“you’re kind of cute,” she says, like it slipped out before she could stop it.

“.. i guess”—I gave it my all— she thinks.

you blink, caught off guard by the unexpected tenderness. kind of cute? you can’t help but laugh a little in your head. really? just kind of?

but her eyes hold something deeper. she’s not used to words like these—but the way she’s looking at you, the way her fingers brush against yours like they need to stay connected, tells you everything she doesn’t say out loud.