The final bell had rung hours ago, but the sky was still streaked with soft gold, the air thick with the usual after-school chatter and the occasional sound of laughter drifting from across the neighborhood. Chris and Nick walked side by side, bags slung over their shoulders, sneakers kicking against gravel as they made their way home.

 They didn’t talk much at first. Just the occasional sound of footsteps and the soft rustle of leaves overhead.

 Then Nick broke the silence. "You coming over again today?"

 "Yeah," Chris nodded casually. "Figured I'd chill at yours for a bit."

 Nick raised a brow, a sly grin spreading slowly across his face. "You dating Sienna, right?"

 Chris let out a short huff, a small breath of disbelief. “No, bro.”

 Nick didn’t look convinced. He narrowed his eyes in mock seriousness. "Come on, man. I know she’s the one you actually want to see. So why not just go straight to her house?"

 Chris gave him a tight, slightly awkward smile. “It’s not really what you think.”

 Nick made a face, squinting like he’d just been betrayed. "Ohhh, so we keeping secrets now? That’s what we on?"

 Chris’s answer came too fast. “No! I swear, nothing’s going on. Nothing to worry about.”

 Nick side-eyed him for a second, then shook his head with a smirk. “Mmhm. If you say so.”

 They reached Nick’s house a few minutes later. Chris dropped his backpack on the floor in Nick's room without even taking a breath and turned to rush back downstairs.

 Nick leaned over his bed frame, watching him. “Yo, chill. She lives just opposite, man.”

 Chris shot him a quick grin but didn’t stop moving. Moments later, he was knocking on the Wallis’ front door, bouncing lightly on his heels. When the door opened, it was Mrs. Wallis standing there, warm smile and soft eyes like always.

 "Hey Chris," she greeted, already knowing. “You here for Sienna, right?”

 "Yeah,” he replied, scratching the back of his neck.

 “She’s not home yet,” she said, stepping aside. “But she should be soon. You can wait if you want.”

 Chris nodded. “Sure. Thanks.”

 He stepped into the hallway, standing near the foot of the stairs. The house had that lived-in scent—something between lavender, books, and faint cinnamon. For a moment, it was just the ticking of the wall clock and the occasional car passing by outside.

 Then—footsteps.

 Coming down the stairs, slow but firm.

 Chris’s heart leapt. Thumped once, twice, then harder as the figure came into view.

 Ash.

 "Yo,” Ash said with a grin, hoodie slung lazily over one shoulder. “You waiting for your girlfriend?”

 He said it in that teasing, half-serious, half-just-poking-fun way, and Chris awkwardly laughed. “She’s not my girlfriend. But yeah, I’m waiting for Sienna.”

 Ash shrugged, a smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth. “Come upstairs. I got this new game—Street Brawl Legends, you play?”

 Chris lit up. “Yeah, that’s a sick game. Cool, man.”

 They headed upstairs to Ash’s room. It was exactly what you'd expect—a bit messy, mostly dark colors, game controllers scattered around, a few posters on the walls. Chris put on the headphones as soon as the console came alive, locking in fast.

 He was so deep into the game he didn’t hear a thing. The blaring combos, the trash-talking AI—it was all he could focus on. So when a hand tapped his shoulder, he jumped nearly out of his skin, pulling the headphones off as he spun around.

 Ash was right there, chuckling.

 “You were really into it, bro. Didn't even hear me walk in.”

 Chris laughed, brushing a hand through his hair. “Who doesn't get into this kind of stuff, man?”

 Ash nodded. “True.”

 He sat beside him, grabbed a second controller, and joined in. They played for a while—taunts, laughs, the occasional accidental elbow—but then Ash lost a match. Chris laughed loud, pointing at the screen.

 “I thought you were tough at this, man!”

 Ash leaned back, smiling lazily. “I am. I was just… distracted.”

 Chris, still smiling, glanced over. “By what?”

 Ash didn’t miss a beat. “You.”

 The word hung there like a loaded silence. Time felt like it froze. The only thing Chris could hear now was his heartbeat, loud and panicked, threatening to jump out of his chest.

 He tried to play it cool. “Hey man, didn’t know you joked like that too.” His laugh was awkward. “But… you got me for a second there. I wa—”

 Before he could finish, Ash slid his chair closer and kissed him.

 It wasn’t rough. It wasn’t too soft either. Just real. It only lasted a moment—but it didn’t end there. Chris leaned in again. This time it was him. For a full minute, he kissed Ash like he had wanted to for months.

 Then—

 Click.

 The door creaked open.

 Sienna stood at the entrance, jaw nearly hitting the carpeted floor.

 She blinked, eyes wide, then backed out slowly and quietly closed the door behind her.

 Chris pulled back, dazed, still feeling the aftershock of everything. Then he smiled—wide and stunned, like a kid who just got every gift on his birthday. He stood up and rushed after her, still grinning like a fool.

 He found her in her room across the hall, arms crossed, eyebrow arched in amusement.

 “Well damn,” Sienna said, laughing. “You gon’ teach me your ways or what? I was still trying to come up with a plan to help you, and you’re already making out!”

 Chris rubbed the back of his neck. “You totally ruined the moment.”

 Sienna rolled her eyes, smiling. “I already got home a while ago, and I was like—where the hell is this guy? So I texted Nick. He says, ‘Chris left like five minutes ago, probably at yours already.’ I’m thinking okay, maybe I missed him. So I tell Nick ‘Yeah, I saw him.’ But then I ask Mom and she’s like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s upstairs.’ And I just knew. But that? Whew.”

 They both laughed.

 Chris flopped down on her bed. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. I just… I don’t even know.”

 She nudged him with her elbow. “So when’s the wedding? I need to pick out a dress—in-law privileges now.”

 He groaned, but smiled through it. “You’re never letting this go, are you?”

 “Nope.” She winked. “And don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me—brother-in-law.”

 They both burst out laughing.

 And just like that, a new chapter in Chris’s life had begun—loud, unexpected, messy, but somehow exactly what he needed. That night, Chris lay curled into the side of his bed, the glow of his phone lighting up his face. A new message popped up:

Ash: yo

 Chris grinned.

 Chris: yo

 Ash: you sleepin yet or still thinking bout me like a simp 😏

 Chris rolled his eyes, chuckling quietly.

 Chris: both tbh 😩

 Ash: good. keep thinking. maybe I’ll haunt your dreams or whatever

 Chris: u already do. like a really attractive poltergeist

 They bantered for a while like that—light teasing, flirty jokes. It felt easy now. Like something unspoken had settled in between them. But when the texts slowed down, Chris brought up what had been sitting heavy in his chest.

 Chris: oh yh… Sienna told me ur going back to school soon.

 Chris: didn’t know two days came that fast 😞

 Ash: yeah. i leave tomorrow morning

 Chris stared at the screen for a long moment. The sad face emoji felt like it didn’t even begin to cover what he felt.

Ash: i kinda don’t wanna go yet tbh

 Chris: wish you could stay longer

 Ash: you’re kinda the reason

 Chris's chest fluttered. He didn’t respond for a few minutes, just smiling like an idiot under his blanket. Then he replies.

Chris: yk you making me blush so hard rn

Ash: as I should

Chris did nothing but blushed harder.

Chris: guess I’m gonna go sleep now 😴

Ash: yh dream of me

Chris: sure 😊

The next day after school, Chris didn’t hesitate—he followed Sienna off the bus.

 “You not even pretending anymore,” she said with a smirk. “You’ve given up all subtlety.”

 Chris laughed. “Why pretend when I know I’m headed straight to your house anyway?”

 She gave him a dramatic sigh. “This boy really fell hard. Should’ve known when you were cheesin’ like a baby goat last night.”

 Chris groaned. “Sienna, please…”

 She only laughed harder, nudging his shoulder as they walked. “I love this for you though. But just know I’ve officially earned the right to tease you forever now.”

They got to her house, and this time Chris didn’t wait around. He gave her a look, almost like asking for permission. She smirked and nodded toward the stairs. “Go on, Romeo.”

 Chris opened Ash’s door slowly and saw him zipping up his duffel bag, the room already looking half-empty. His desk was bare, and a pile of folded hoodies sat by the door.

 Ash looked up and gave a small smile. “Right on time.”

 Chris stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. “Didn’t wanna miss you.”

 Ash nodded, then gestured at the near-empty bag. “Almost done. Just gotta throw in my chargers and stuff.”

 Chris sat on the edge of the bed, watching him. “We barely even got to hang out properly.”

 Ash looked over at him, a warm flicker in his eyes. “Yeah. But what we did have was worth like… weeks.”

 Chris smiled faintly. Ash walked over and sat beside him, their shoulders brushing lightly. No one said anything for a second.

 Ash reached out, tugged him closer by the waist, and just like that, they were kissing again.

It wasn’t rushed like yesterday. This one was slower, deeper. Like they were trying to memorize every second of it. Chris’s fingers curled slightly into Ash’s shirt, and Ash’s hand cradled the back of his neck like he didn’t want to let go.

When they finally pulled apart, Chris kept his forehead pressed against Ash’s. “Wish you weren’t leaving.”

Ash sighed. “Me too.”

Outside, the air was cool, the sun dipping behind the trees. Sienna leaned on the porch railing, arms crossed, watching quietly. Her eyes flicked from Ash to Chris and back again—but she didn’t say a word.

 Nick appeared suddenly from across the street, walking over with his hands in his pockets. “Yo! Leaving already?”

 Ash chuckled and set his bag down beside the car. “Yeah, man. Break’s over.”

 Nick came up and the two did a solid guy hug—the kind with the shoulder bump, the back-pat, and the dab pull-in. “Take care, bro,” Nick said.

 “You too. Don’t let Chris eat all your snacks while I’m gone,” Ash replied with a knowing smirk.

 Nick raised a brow at Chris, then gave Ash a suspicious side-eye. “He been in your pantry too?”

 Ash just laughed, but Chris was blushing hard. Sienna caught it, eyes sparkling.

 After a final wave, Ash climbed into his car, windows rolled down, engine humming. His eyes flicked toward Chris for just a second—nothing obvious, but the look said everything.

 Chris stepped back, stuffing his hands in his pockets. As the car rolled away, he caught Sienna watching him.

 She bumped his arm. “You okay?”

 He smiled a little. “Yeah. I think so.”

 Sienna gave him a look, half-smug and half-soft. “You two are so obvious, by the way.”

 Chris shrugged, eyes still on the road where the car had gone. “You’re the only one who knows.”

 “Exactly,” she said. “And I plan to keep it that way… for now. But only if you promise to keep being this adorably hopeless.”

 Chris snorted. “Fine.”

 And with that, they went back inside.