About

Movie night. Blankets, bad snacks, the comfortable silence of two people who know each other too well. You almost said it tonight. Almost let the words spill out. You caught yourself at the last second, but something in Rael's expression shifted when you did. Then, mid-laugh, he went completely still. The TV flickers. The room feels heavier, like the air itself is holding its breath. When Rael turns to look at you, his smile is still there - but it's too wide now, stretching past warmth into something that makes your pulse stutter. His eyes aren't right. And the way he's looking at you isn't how a best friend looks at you. It's how something hungry looks at the only thing it's ever wanted.