hapt

one calls to random pizza runs, their bond had always been unbreakable ,or so Ma

night of Kayla'

k, eyes scanning the crowd. Ryan was supposed to be here by now. She adjusted her black dres

d. Black jeans, a grey tee that clung to his chest, and that stupid, charming

her into a hug. She caught a whiff of

sked, trying to kee

" he said, grin

did Ryan bring

d me so much about you. You'r

hit like ice wate

smile. "Right.

to refill her drink - something stronger this time. Why was

okes, how Ryan rested his hand on her waist like it was second nature. Maya burned with je

elf outside by the pool, trying to catch h

sked, concern al

wouldn't I be

. "What's going on

"Nothing. Everything. I don't know,

ser. "Is it be

dn't a

bother you," he said s

, it

en them thickened with tension - not just fr

spered, "what

she breathed,

is lips brushed hers. So

er lips still tingled from Ryan's kiss. Her mind kept replaying it - over and over

ad the

pposed to be

her phone buzzed.

Can we

t for a while b

: La

oon, he showed up at her door, hands shoved in h

me," she s

ack," he replied

does that mean, Ryan? We're

osed to feel something, Maya.

ds, but she shook her head. "N

nly person in the world. "Or it cou

ly, but her phone buzzed ag

ason's tonight! Y

d back: I'm in. N

d an eyebr

eding air. "Maybe I

gged her body, her curls were wild, her makeup sharp. If Ryan wa

't care. She danced, laughed, and even let Mason - Kayl

. The moment he saw her with Mason,

d straig

k?" he said

"I'm kinda b

ay

how single he is," she inte

kled. "Ver

clenched. "

ut to the balcony,

l are you doi

y. "It sucks, doesn't it? Seeing the

. "So that's what

ser. "This is me figuring ou

nd hungry. It wasn't like the kiss from before - this one was full of f

, breathless. "

aya couldn't stop thinking about the kiss - the second on

just curiosity. It was someth

yan. She needed time. Space

ling through her phone in bed,

d. "Go aw

oice called back. "I

her best girlfriend ho

, pushing inside. "You've b

er lip. "I

up. "Finally! You

ed - then hesitated. "

asped.

nd I hated how m

finally admitting her feelings - the

at's stopping you two f

spered. "Of ruin

her phone b

stairs. Can we

ed an eyeb

"I guess I'm

his car. The moment he saw he

been avo

to think,"

nd

ng," she confessed. "But I can't

r. "Then let's s

s time slower, deeper. Her arms went around his nec

nst her lips, "Co

for a moment

ng forever. She responded with equal fire. Clothes fell away. Touches turned desperate. They made lov

gled in his sheets, ski

d to him.

air from her face. "Now we

the first time

. Because when best friends cross that l

n Ryan's sheets, her head resting on his bare chest, his arm curled pro

reali

crossed

e flooding back. The kisses. The touches. The wa

tching the blan

ed. "Hey..

ed, staring at the wall. "

sitting up beside her. "

kind of answer. "But what are we now, Ryan? Fr

We're something more. I've

er. But instead, her stoma

aid, standing up and

"Wait. Are you r

o think. Please, don

ord, the heat of his gaze

eelings threatening to swallow her whole. But it wasn't easy. Especi

on already? Or worse

wor

d Kayla i

party this week

Jace's. Dress hot.

rimly. Just w

or, drinks flowing. Maya looked stunning in a tight black

amn, Maya. You tryna

le what they lost,"

second she saw Ryan...

met acros

aya laughed bitterly and

d play t

friend-of-a-friend - and started dancing close.

Ryan was watching. She could f

was beside her.

. "Go enjoy your

don't d

lready

ay before he

wn, her hea

esn't always burn clean.The party wa

nce that night at Jace's. No

ad L

She had

- classes, work, anything to stop herself from thinking about him. But

me the

to talk. Ple

en, heart racing. She a

he co

le coffee shop near campus where they u

elt like a

able, eyes tired, hands wrapped around a coffee c

oss from him

good," he

dn't r

up with

shot up

she's n

inked,

e we crossed a line and it was a mistake, and I panicked

isted. "You.

"I think I

bring her to that party? Why did you l

to. I was con

ere," she

table, taking her ha

rt of her ached to say yes. But

said, voice trembl

fell. "May

ce. Just... time to b

"I'll wait. As l

ay gently and stood. "

afternoon sun, her heart

m. She had n

s enough. Not when tr

se it was over, but because it still matt

sumes a friendship, rebuildi

mes out untou

ong Maya had

s. She thought space would help - gi

it made the s

ell of coffee, old music playlists, he

hone buzzed, she

it w

hate

ith a group of friends - beach house, drinks, an

action. A break fr

escape. Sunlight poured through the windows, waves

in weeks. Her curls were wild, her eyes hidden behind sunglasses. A few

skin, charming smile, and the kind of eyes that said,

And maybe that

der string lights. Jayden pulled her close, and she let him

utiful," he

roat. She leaned in, testing herself, le

their mouths to

sn't

asn'

ed back

inked. "Y

hed. "I thought I was

ly. "Still stu

no

that," he said. "Befo

taring at the stars. The ocean roared in the

ed up he

till mean it?

assed. The

h

ays. Wher

ach house. W

y there.

art dropp

her

end in silence. I'm done

gain.It was nearly midnight when Maya

art po

m. "Uh... Maya? There's a guy at

't need t

on the cool tiles, heart cra

e he

y

led, eyes wild like he'd driven

e," she

d," he said softly

entryway, the party fading behin

arms. "What are

d. "I tried, Maya. But I can't

. She didn't kn

ed. "I let fear drive me. I hurt

, eyes stinging. "Yo

ve you," he said. "But I'm m

ser. "Did I al

for a long moment.

fli

h with it," she whispered

ance between them.

asn't

t's all

ck. She melted into him, arms wrapping around his neck as

l the missed chances, all the bottled-up love,

he breathed b

them. Clothes dropped like forgotten barriers. Skin met ski

just sex

was

ne

per

rayer, and Maya answered with ev

t in confusion this time, but in something r

ed," she

"But this? Us? It

sing her eyes. "Promise

es. But I'll fight like hell to neve

ft gold across the tangled sheets. Maya woke in Ryan's

time in weeks,

," he wh

e replied, ki

ettle in. This was the dream - waking up next to

s come wi

everythin

tarted to notice. Everyone whispered about Maya and Ryan f

ot ev

one, wasn

rnoon after class, her expre

an, huh?" she

er smile ti

" Leila added. "Took him long enou

wned. "E

while he was still talking to me. So... just keep your

deeper than

ay, leaving a b

t her phone. Ryan hadn't texted since mor

Leila

it t

r chapter in Ryan's

her, she replied with a

ur later, sensing th

he asked, concer

nd?" she asked

nked.

eeing her when you kissed me

s face. "Maya, no. She'

explai

ed I had to be honest with myself. About you. But the mom

chest t

tell me that from the

t to give you another

a long time, torn be

t," he said softly. "But I

ed hard. "Th

ded. "

g more, but she didn't

yed th

is arms, a sh

an set your wo

do

t down Ryan hadn

ng text. Not a c

ugh old messages, looking for reassurance. But each unanswer

op thinking abo

Ryan's

his eyes when she

God, she did - but trust was

fter 8 p.m., he

y. Been with th

asual. Detached. Lik

expl

ar all day and th

ou want me to s

at proves I'm not just a

. then they

idn't

her keys and

r flew open before s

ay

ious right now? You ghost me, the

id, running a hand through his hair. "

ot your secret. I'm not your

"Backup plan? You t

"One minute you say I'm everything, the next you're

. "You're listen

to the silence

hit

a

hands on his hips

than this," he said, quieter n

tears welling in her eyes.

pause stretche

her, eyes stormy. "M

pped. "What a

o hot, too fast. Ma

sed. "You're brea

ice cracking. "I just know

ks. "No. We're tearing us a

move. Di

stood

lence said

and walked o

, he didn

y in bed staring a

d him so dee

ad burned too

hips aren't meant

s are meant to

nce Maya walked out of Ryan's

ts. No

, saw friends, even smiled in a few sel

through a world that

The one she told everything to - even bef

ay his name without

hoping. Praying that he would

time, h

ir was cool, the sky painted orange and purp

d the park,

e he

y

to sit on every Sunday after coffee runs, wa

if he'd been w

eyes

hing s

er slowly, he

ired," she

, broken thing. "I

side him. "

asn't the painful kind. It was full of

ly said. "I let my fear sp

nd I let mine convin

ere right, though. We to

ow how to love each other yet. W

"I miss you.

tightened. "I

t, gently tak

ork - talking to someone, facing my crap. B

in her eyes

fairytale, I know we're worth fighting for. Ev

o knew her laugh, her fears, her s

ulder. "Then let's take it slo

r hand. "Slow

long time, no longer af

n friendship burns, it

the way for something

rises from

ge

HE E