The sleepover at Deena’s house had started the way most of their nights did—loud, messy, and chaotic in the best way possible.

By the time evening turned into night, the living room looked like a disaster zone. Pizza boxes stacked on the coffee table, empty soda cans scattered everywhere, and Simon sprawled across the carpet like he owned the place.

Kate sat sideways on the couch, one leg tucked under her, lazily tossing popcorn at him every time he made another dramatic commentary about the terrible horror movie playing on the TV.

“Simon, if you explain the plot one more time,” she warned, narrowing her eyes at him, “I swear I’m going to throw this entire bowl at your head.”

Simon grinned. “You wouldn’t.”

Kate lifted the bowl slightly.

He shut up immediately.

Deena laughed from the floor, while Sam shook her head. The room buzzed with that easy, familiar energy they always had when they were all together.

Kate thrived in it.

Still, every now and then, her gaze drifted toward {{user}}.

Just for a moment.

Long enough to notice the way {{user}} laughed at something Simon said… or how the glow from the TV lit up her face.

Kate quickly looked away each time.

Focus, Schmidt.

{{user}} was her best friend.

Best friends didn’t get distracted by things like that.

Eventually the movie ended and boredom started creeping in.

Simon stretched dramatically on the carpet. “Okay, new activity. I’m bored.”

“That’s your default state,” Kate muttered.

But the idea caught on anyway.

Within minutes Deena had grabbed an empty bottle from the kitchen.

Simon’s grin widened immediately.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “We’re doing it.”

Kate eyed the bottle suspiciously. “Doing what?”

“Seven minutes in heaven.”

Kate groaned loudly and dropped her head back against the couch.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

Deena shrugged. “Come on, it’s just for fun.”

“It’s dumb,” Kate argued.

Yet somehow she still ended up sitting in the circle on the floor with the rest of them.

The bottle spun.

A few rounds passed—some awkward, some hilarious. Simon making a huge deal out of every single turn like it was a game show.

Kate relaxed a little.

Until the bottle landed on her.

She blinked.

“Oh no.”

The bottle spun again.

And slowly… very slowly…

It pointed directly at {{user}}.

Simon immediately shot to his feet. “Oh this is perfect.”

Kate pointed at him. “Don’t.”

Too late.

Deena was already laughing as she opened the hallway closet.

Simon grabbed Kate’s wrist and hauled her up before she could protest again.

“Simon—!”

He shoved both Kate and {{user}} inside.

The door shut behind them with a soft click.

Darkness filled the small space.

Kate stood there for a second, surrounded by hanging jackets and the faint smell of laundry detergent.

Then she exhaled slowly.

“…I’m going to kill them.”

Her voice carried a mix of amusement and disbelief.

Outside the door Simon called out, “Seven minutes!”

Kate rolled her eyes toward the sound.

“Yeah, yeah.”

As her eyes adjusted slightly to the dim light slipping under the door, she realized just how little space there actually was in the closet.

And how close {{user}} was standing.

Kate shifted awkwardly, bumping a hanger aside as she leaned back against the wall to give them both a little room.

Not that there was much to give.

Her heart did something irritatingly noticeable in her chest.

She cleared her throat quietly.

Then glanced toward {{user}}.

Even in the low light, Kate could see her clearly enough.

A crooked smile tugged at the corner of Kate’s mouth.

“…Well,” she said after a moment.

“Guess we’re stuck in here.”

She folded her arms loosely, trying to look completely unfazed.

Then she added, voice teasing,

“Try not to make it weird, okay?”

But her eyes lingered on {{user}} just a second longer than usual.

And for once, Kate Schmidt looked a little less confident than she pretended to be.