Later that afternoon, I met up with Jess and Sam at our usual café, the smell of coffee and the chatter of familiar voices immediately putting me at ease. But I couldn't keep the morning's interaction with Lena out of my head, the feel of her warm cheek still vivid in my mind.

Jess didn't waste any time once we sat down, eyeing me as I absentmindedly stirred my coffee.

"Alright, Harper," she started, her voice dripping with curiosity. "You look way too dazed. Spill it. What's going on?"

I tried to downplay it, shrugging and taking a long sip of my coffee. "Nothing, really," I said, attempting casualness. "Just... a little accidental face-holding while asleep, you know. Totally normal."

Sam's eyes lit up. "Wait, face-holding? Who are you accidentally face-holding in your sleep?"

I blushed, realizing my slip. "Uh... Lena. She, uh, she kind of woke me up on the couch this morning."

Jess leaned in, eyebrows raised with a smirk. "So, you're saying you're actually dreaming about her now? What happened to your whole 'roommates are just roommates' stance?"

Sam snorted, clearly amused. "Roommates, sure... though it's starting to sound like a rom-com in the making." She grinned, giving me a playful nudge.

I laughed it off, trying to hide how much the idea actually made my stomach flip. "I just... wasn't awake yet, that's all! It's not a big deal."

Jess shot me a look. "Harper, you're practically glowing. Maybe it's time to admit there's something more to this."

I sighed, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks again. "I don't know," I muttered, tracing a circle around the rim of my cup. "It's just... every time I'm around her lately, it feels like something could happen, you know? But it's not like I actually know what she feels."

Sam grinned. "Only one way to find out," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

I groaned, slumping a little further in my seat. "You say that like it's easy! What am I supposed to do—just walk up to her and ask if she's secretly thinking about me in her spare time?"

Jess laughed. "Well, maybe not that direct! But come on, there's got to be a way to feel it out."

I hesitated, running a hand through my hair as I tried to gather my thoughts. "She's not exactly an open book. I mean, she's polite and everything, but I've got no idea if she'd ever even think about me that way."

Sam leaned forward, her expression serious for a change. "Okay, how about this? Next time you're with her, pay attention to how she reacts when you get close or when you joke around. Does she seem nervous or give you those lingering glances? Little things like that can tell you a lot."

I nodded, trying to absorb Sam's advice. The thought of intentionally observing Lena made me feel ridiculous, but part of me wanted to see if there was actually something there beyond friendship.

"Besides," Jess added with a wink, "you've got nothing to lose. Worst-case scenario, she thinks you're being extra friendly."

I cracked a smile, feeling a strange surge of excitement mixed with nervousness. "You're both terrible influences," I teased, though I couldn't deny they had a point.

"Oh, come on, Harp," Jess said, waving a hand. "You've been pining over her for months. You owe it to yourself to know if there's something real between you two."

"Yeah, yeah." I rolled my eyes but couldn't keep the grin off my face. As nervous as I felt, a part of me wanted to lean into the unknown, to see where things could lead with Lena.

Sam sipped her coffee and gave me an approving nod. "You've got this. Next time you two are alone, just let it happen naturally."

As we sat there in the café, surrounded by laughter and the comforting clatter of mugs, I decided I'd give it a shot. I'd take the plunge and find out if there was more to Lena's quiet glances and lingering goodbyes than just roommate politeness.