Between Us 

The afternoon started with a laughter — the kind that comes too easily when you’re trying to ignore something deeper.

Ethan was supposed to be back by evening, but for now, it was just me and Kim again. 

He was helping me with an art project for college, though “helping” mostly meant like distracting me.

“You’re terrible at focusing on work,” he teased, leaning back in the chair.

“And you’re terrible at being helpful to anyone,” I shot back.

“Hey, moral support counts.”

“Moral support doesn’t include eating all my snacks,” I said, pointing at the half-empty pack of chips beside him.

He grinned, not even pretending to feel guilty. “You work better when you’re mad at me.”

I laughed despite myself. He wasn’t wrong.

The room was filled with sunlight — lazy and golden — and for a moment, it felt like nothing could ruin this easy rhythm we’d fallen into.

Then he tried to reached for my sketchbook.

“Hey— don’t look at that!” I said, grabbing it before he could.

“Why not? You’ve drawn me before, haven’t you?” His smirk widened, teasing but curious.

“Not for you to see.”

“Now I have to.”

He lunged forward to grab it from my hand.

And that’s when it happened. In the split of second his hand caught mine, the chair tipped slightly, and we both leaned forward.

 Our lips brushed. Just a quick, accidental touch. But like the world stopped feeling.

 The pencil rolled off the table. The sound echoed louder than it should have. 

Neither of us moved. For a moment, all I could feel was fast and loud heartbeat — his hand still around mine, his face too close.

The silence that followed was heavy — awkward in a way that laughter couldn’t fix this time.

I sat frozen, the air thick with all the words neither of us could say anything. 

Then Kim blinked, as if waking up, he rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting anywhere but me.

Finally, he cleared his throat. “I should… probably get some air.”

I nodded, pretending to be calm even though my pulse was racing. “Yeah. Sure.”

He stepped out onto the porch, leaving the door half open. I could still hear him breathe out, slow and shaky, like he was trying to control his heartbeat.

Mine wasn’t much better.

Later that night, Ethan called to say he’d be home in a few days.

I should’ve felt relieved.

Instead, all I could think about was the way Kim hadn’t looked me in the eye since that moment.