ly slept

me just under her skin. She had kissed him. No - he had kissed her, and s

g, as his voice echoed in her head: "I

how much she wante

s panic. What did it mean? Were they together now? Was their

er pillow tight, trying to s

m., her ph

You

screen for a momen

: Ki

stop thinkin

typed and deleted five res

Me n

econds

e you tomorrow

r fingers hovered

Yeah

lt ridiculous - dressing up for her best friend. But after what happened, nothing felt normal

ouldn't sto

his car, looking entirely too good in a black T-shirt and ripped jeans,

" he

ed, her voice sm

It was awkward, and the silence

slid in. They drove in silence for

she broke

bout las

eah. I've been thinki

d. "I just... I don't

. "It means I'm

at him, con

y best friend for a while now, an

d. Her fingers tig

an.

ut at in high school. The view was still beautiful -

at you," he said. "But I

n at her hands

kno

nt to lose

nything?" he asked. "What i

but her head whispered all

on't work out

d rather try and lose

y in his voice n

who had been her constant, her comfort, her home. An

air from her face. "Tell me to stop,

he di

he whisper

ped her face like she was something precious. He pulled her closer until she was nea

art, breathless, she reste

razy," she

said. "But

The way he looked at her. The way he kissed her. The wa

rmth came the w

ey dating? Were they just testing the waters? What w

ings already

d Ryan were a package deal. But now, as she walked into the cafeteria and saw Ryan talking to a

g. Too loud. Touchi

stomach

rd them, trying

id, plasterin

ely, eyes softening. "H

ver. "You two are al

ightly. "Yep.

he way she said best f

ling inside her. She had no right to be mad - tec

, it

an caught up wi

s that?"

s what?"

'best friends.' Yo

ged. "May

hy

were flirting

was

your arm, R

e and then act like nothing happened? Y

m sc

p pushing

stop making me feel like I

d at her

breathing hard,

w. "You are not an option, Maya.

ed, but no wo

ut I need you to be sure. Bec

I don't know how to b

he whispered. "B

pulled him into a kiss so fierce,

e school parking lot, kissing like it

on her bed, phone in hand, fi

we officiall

efore she coul

assed before th

you wan

o herself, h

:

Then w

Clean. T

e beginning of something she had

yone was hap

the hallway. Apparently, someone had seen

aya and Ryan ar

they were j

bagged the hottes

ot to feel exposed. This had been their mo

caught her in

voice sickly sweet. "Just

inked.

. I just didn't think he'd actually go for it.

tightened.

it didn't reach her

e left before lettin

fire in the open? That could burn everythingMaya didn't go straight home after

visit during finals week, back when everything was simple. Back when k

entmindedly, replaying Br

it l

so deep? Why did she c

e deep down, she wasn't

ne buzz

r? Just you and me.

message for a whil

e there

ow of a bedside lamp. Posters still lined the walls - musi

ying in a plain black hoodie and joggers.

he said

on the edge of his bed, unsure

e for a few second

you o

he lump in her throa

ntly lacing his fi

trong with me, Maya. I

It's... I've never wanted someone so much

" he sai

ing. "Do you ever think maybe we

er what it felt like to kiss you. What it felt like to finally touc

not easy. Everyone's watc

tting up fully.

ed. "Made me feel like I wasn't en

d. He moved closer,

ere twelve. I've seen every version of you - happy, broken, go

as his forehead re

fling, Maya. Y

deep - scary,

. Slower this time. Deeper. Her fingers found his hoodie,

o the bed. All she knew was that their bodie

r, slow and careful, like he was memorizing

th

fr

and pulled back, search

nod

sion softe

arms around her, holding her like she w

The world outside was loud and complicated, but here, in his arms, everything was still. Safe. She didn't