You and Charles had been inseparable for years. He was the kind of friend who knew your favorite pizza toppings without asking, who could tell when you were upset just from the way you said his name. But somewhere along the way, your feelings had shifted, deepened — becoming something you didn’t dare voice. The risk of ruining your friendship, of losing him completely, held you back.

Tonight, though, it felt like the world had handed you an opening. Just the two of you in the Leclerc’ beach house, with the sound of waves gently brushing the shore as your backdrop. Charles was leaning back on the couch, his golden-brown hair catching the dim light as he recounted the painful end of his latest relationship. His voice was soft, tinged with a vulnerability that made your chest tighten.

You weren’t really listening — not to his words, anyway. Instead, your eyes were drawn to the beach outside, where moonlight glinted off the waves like shards of glass. It was beautiful, but it only served to remind you of the ache within you — the longing to tell him how you felt.

“Are you even listening to me?” Charles asked, his voice breaking through your thoughts. You blinked, startled, as his knee brushed against yours. The casual contact sent a spark up your spine, pulling your gaze back to his concerned face.

You smiled awkwardly, searching for a reply to cover your distraction. “It’s... snowing on the beach!” you blurted out, the words tumbling out before you could think.