I didn't expect much when Connor Sharpe followed me back.
Just some random notification while hanging out with my best friend.
But one simple "hi" turns into something neither of us saw coming.
A couple of years apart, different grades, and a millio...
Aiden and I sat cross-legged on the floor, controllers in hand, shoulders almost bumping. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my fingers as we neared the final lap on Rainbow Road. My focus was insane. My grip was deathly tight.
Behind us, Jake and Yumi were shouting at each other.
“YUMI, YOU THREW THAT BANANA AT ME ON PURPOSE!”
“I SWEAR I DIDN’T— okay maybe I did.”
"BUT WE'RE TOGETHER YOU DUMBASS"
I grinned, biting back a laugh. Aiden glanced over at me, his expression gleefully intense.
“We’re so close,” he whispered. “Final stretch. Don’t mess it up.”
“Don’t jinx it!” I hissed back, tongue slightly between my teeth in concentration.
The music reached its chaotic high point and then—
VICTORY.
The screen flashed, confetti and fireworks exploding virtually around our characters. "PLAYER 1 & 2 WIN!" in all caps. Yumi groaned dramatically and dropped her controller.
“NOOOOOOOOO!”
Jake tossed a pillow at us. “Hacks. You’re both cheating.”
I stood up quickly, throwing my arms in the air. “LET’S GO!” I shouted, laughing.
And before I could even fully turn to him, Aiden stood up too and suddenly wrapped his arms around me.
I froze for half a second, caught off guard, but then I laughed and returned the hug, our celebration turning into this giddy, spontaneous moment of shared joy.
His arms lingered a beat longer than expected.
My heart did something weird in my chest.
From the couch, I felt it before I saw it—Connor’s gaze.
When Aiden finally pulled away, grinning down at me like we’d just won the lottery instead of a round of Mario Kart, I tried to act like it was no big deal. Just a hug. Just a game. Just friends celebrating.
But the room had gone strangely quiet.
Laura looked… mildly annoyed again, and Connor, Connor’s jaw was tight, lips pressed into a neutral line that didn’t match the playful mood from earlier. He didn’t say anything, just looked back at the TV screen where the results were still flashing.
Yumi, bless her soul, clapped her hands like she hadn’t noticed anything weird. “Okay, okay. My turn with Aiden. Jake, I love you, but you kept steering us off the cliff.”
“You told me to take the shortcut!” Jake argued.
I sat back down, my cheeks slightly warm. I could still feel where Aiden’s arms had been.
Connor didn’t say a word. Just crossed his arms and leaned back against the bed, eyes narrowed at the screen.
And okay… maybe that made me smile a little bit too much.
I glanced at Laura, who was basically leaning into Connor’s arm while he was half-focused on the screen. Her laugh was a little too loud, a little too sparkly.
I smiled. Tight. Controlled.
“Oh, Laura,” I said sweetly, “since you wanted so badly to learn how to play GTA…”
Her head whipped toward me, eyes wide and blinking, caught off guard.
“…You can take my spot. Play with Jake. He’s really good at teaching people.” I added, like it was no big deal. “I’m just gonna go use the bathroom.”
Jake looked up from his controller, a little confused but shrugged. “Uh… sure.”
Laura blinked. “Wait, really? I mean—yeah! Cool. I guess.”
She was already crawling over the cushions to grab the controller before I’d even finished turning toward the hallway.
I wasn’t angry exactly. Just tired.
Tired of pretending not to notice how Laura kept laughing a little too hard, leaning a little too close. Tired of watching him not do anything about it. Or maybe I was tired of myself, for caring so much.
The second I stepped into the hallway, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. The bathroom door clicked shut behind me.
I wasn’t even sure I had to pee. I just needed a second.
Maybe ten.
Maybe the rest of the night.
I sat on the edge of the tub for a moment, elbows on my knees. My phone buzzed in my back pocket. When I pulled it out, the screen lit up with a message from Yumi:
> “Girl. You good?”
I smiled a little and typed back:
> “Bathroom escape. Needed a minute lol”
Another buzz came almost instantly.
> “Connor’s watching the hallway like a hawk rn just sayingggg 👀”
I blinked and quickly replied:
> “Tell him I’m pooping”
> “EW Y/N”
I laughed under my breath.
A quiet knock came at the door.
I stood up slowly. “Just a sec—!”
A familiar voice came through, muffled but soft.
“…It’s me.”
Connor.
Of course it was.
------------------------ Literally thinking about publishing the whole story at once 💔
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