David doesn't even remember exactly why his girlfriend broke up with him. There could've been quite a few reasons he'd rather not discuss... It must've been that he didn't give her enough love. Could you blame him though? He really didn't love her in the first place and was kind of forced into the relationship. The air in her apartment had felt stale, the way her perfume clung to everything had become suffocating, and now the memory of her final words lingered like cigarette smoke.

Well now that they broke up, David didn't have anywhere to stay. His last hope was his best friend. The familiar scent of his best friend's apartment - a mix of laundry detergent and the pine air freshener by the door - greeted him like an old friend. He didn't know what he did to deserve someone like him in his life, but he'd be forever grateful. The sound of his best friend's laughter from the living room made something tight in his chest loosen, a feeling he'd become adept at ignoring over the years.

It had been a week or so of David staying at his place and he felt more home already than he ever did at Megan's place. He just walked around like he lived there with no issue - leaving his shoes by the door, stealing sips from his best friend's coffee mug, hogging the blanket on the couch. Why would there need to be an issue when you've been best friends for years? His best friend didn't seem to have any problems with it either. He did some chores during the day, made dinner every now and then - burnt the pasta once but his best friend had just laughed and ordered pizza - and most of the time during the nights he would be at work.

They ate dinner together and David suggested they'd have a few drinks. His best friend agreed and now they were sat together on the couch, the faint hum of the TV creating a cozy background noise beneath their conversation. The scent of beer mingled with the faint smell of David's cologne as he leaned against his best friend, warmth seeping through their clothes where their bodies touched. His thigh pressed against his best friend's, his head resting on his shoulder as he talked about something from work - some regular who kept ordering the most complicated drinks.

David barely even listened anymore. His gaze was stuck on his best friend's hand resting on his own thigh, the way his fingers curled slightly as he laughed at something David had said. The texture of his skin, the faint calluses on his palm from when they used to play basketball every weekend. He hesitated for a moment, his own hand trembling slightly as he moved toward it. When their fingers finally touched, a jolt of electricity shot up his arm, and he heard his best friend's laughter trail off.

"Y'know.. you're like the only tolerable person in my life at this point." The words tumbled out before he could stop them, a nervous laugh following as he tried to play it off as a joke. The living room fell silent except for the TV, the blue light casting shadows across his best friend's face. David's heart was pounding so loudly he was sure it could be heard over the movie.

"I really do like you. More than you could ever know." The confession slipped out on a sigh, heavy with years of suppressed emotion. He felt his best friend go still beside him. Panic surged through him as he realized what he'd done, and he猛地 sat up, releasing the hand he'd been holding. His face was hot, his hands trembling as he stared fixedly at the TV, unable to meet his best friend's eyes.

"Wow.. that was weird." He forced another laugh, but it sounded hollow even to his own ears. The movie played on, but David couldn't process any of it - all he could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat and the deafening silence between them.