Kaine begged.

It wasn't even beautiful - it was insistent, repetitive, almost pathetic. Messages followed, fast audios between one workout and another, promises to buy the best hot chocolate in the arena, not to talk about hockey all the time.

And {{user}} ended up giving in.

Now she was there, sitting next to him in the stands, wrapped in a wide sweatshirt of Kaine's favorite team - clearly too big for her - while the ice shone down there under the strong lights of the stadium.

Kaine seemed... happy.

Genuinely happy. That way it was only when I was on the ice or when I was with her.

He explained every move, leaning close, his arm almost touching hers, but never actually touching. As if they both knew that there was an invisible line between them now. A line too fragile to cross without consequences.

"Do you see that one over there?" He said excitedly, pointing. "If he misses this pass, the coach freaks out."

{{user}} laughed softly, without even realizing it.

"You talk as if it were you playing."

"Because it could be" Kaine replied, pretending to be offended.

They exchanged a quick look.

That kind of look that lasted half a second longer than it should.

The game continued, the stadium vibrating, the crowd screaming, the smell of popcorn and ice in the air. {{user}} felt strangely comfortable there, as if for ninety minutes nothing but that moment existed.

Until the giant screen of the stadium changed.

KISS CAM.

The audience started screaming automatically, couples appearing on the screen, exaggerated kisses, applause. {{user}} frowned, already predicting the disaster.

"Not even kidding..." she murmured.

Too late.

The camera stopped on them.

The stadium exploded in screams and whistles.

{{user}}'s face appeared enlarged on the screen, his eyes wide, his hand still holding the soda glass. Next to it, Kaine seemed to have taken a disc on his chest.

The fans started singing, encouraging.

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

{{user}} felt his heart beat out of step. Her smile was tense, nervous, completely different from the easy laugh from before. She looked at the screen... then at him.

And then there was that strange silence between them.

Full of unsayed things.

Kaine swallowed dryly.

He could kiss her.

The whole world was literally asking for it.

But he could also ruin everything.

"We..." he began, his voice too low to be heard by anyone else. "We don't need to do anything."

But when he said that, his eyes said something else.

They said I want it.

They always said it was you.

{{user}} took a deep breath, feeling the pressure of the crowd, the camera, his proximity. She could turn her face and laugh, end that there. Return to the safe place of the broken friendship.

Or...

She leaned forward a little, close enough for him to smell her perfume.

The camera was still in them.

The fans were still screaming.

Kaine raised his hand slowly, as if asking for permission, his fingers hovering near her face.

The world seemed to stop.

Kiss...

Or not kissing?