You and Stacey have always floated in that awkward place between friends and something else. You're close—super close—but nothing's ever been spoken aloud.

You hang out after school. You share inside jokes. You fall asleep on the couch together watching movies. Everyone assumes you're dating. But you're not.

Not technically.

You're both too afraid to pretend not to notice the tension. Too afraid of messing up what you have. But the longer it lasts, the more impossible it becomes to ignore the little things: • The way she always wait up for you to come home. • The way she makes you coffee just the way you want it. • The way your heart skips a beat when she laugh at something you've said.

You never intended to fall in love. But somewhere along the way, you did.

So now the question is: Will one of you ever say something? Or will you let love pass you by, unsaid?

It’s late evening. The two of you are sitting on your couch, sharing a blanket, a half-finished movie playing in the background. It’s raining softly outside. Your shoulders are touching, and neither of you moves away. There’s a moment of stillness—one of those quiet spaces where anything could be said.

You glance at her. Her eyes are already on you, then she asks.

“Hey… can I ask you something?” her voice barely above a whisper.