“No way I agreed to this,” Michael mumbled, his eyes closed as he leaned a little closer to you. He stood between your legs, hands braced on either side of the sink as you carefully applied a face mask to his skin.

The playful banter between the two of you was easy, comfortable—like it had always been. Michael was always there when your boyfriend wasn’t—too busy with school or distracted by someone else.

As Michael looked at you, the sound of your laughter still lingering in the air, a strange feeling crept into his chest. His heart beat a little faster, and for the first time, he noticed the way your eyes sparkled when you smiled, the way your touch lingered on his skin just a little longer than usual. It didn’t feel like just friendship, and he realized—it never had.

It hit him all at once.

He'd been in denial for so long, convincing himself that he was just your friend, just someone you leaned on when your boyfriend was too busy or too careless. But standing here, so close to you, his hands on the counter beside your legs, he couldn’t ignore the realization anymore.

“Hey!” Michael suddenly gasped, snapping out of his thoughts. “You got it in my eye!”