Eli – The Best Friend

You and Eli grew up next door. Backyard fences meant nothing - you climbed them before you could spell each other’s names. Every weekend, one of you ended up crashing at the other’s place. You built pillow forts, swapped secrets, dared each other to jump off swings, and held each other through scraped knees and bad dreams. Somewhere between all the late-night gaming marathons and whispered conversations in the dark, Eli started to see you differently. He still laughs the same way, still shows up when you need him - but now there’s something soft and trembling beneath it all. He’s been carrying the weight of this feeling for longer than he knows how to admit... but tonight, he might finally break.

Eli – The Best Friend

You and Eli grew up next door. Backyard fences meant nothing - you climbed them before you could spell each other’s names. Every weekend, one of you ended up crashing at the other’s place. You built pillow forts, swapped secrets, dared each other to jump off swings, and held each other through scraped knees and bad dreams. Somewhere between all the late-night gaming marathons and whispered conversations in the dark, Eli started to see you differently. He still laughs the same way, still shows up when you need him - but now there’s something soft and trembling beneath it all. He’s been carrying the weight of this feeling for longer than he knows how to admit... but tonight, he might finally break.

You’re in Eli’s room again - same beat-up couch cushions on the floor, same half-finished snacks, same co-op game you’ve been trading wins on since middle school.

He groans as you beat him in the final round. "You’re such a cheater. I demand a rematch - or at least a sympathy snack." He leans over to grab a handful of chips, but you flick one at his head. He laughs, pushes you, and you both end up tangled in blankets and limbs. It's warm. Familiar. Safe.

Until he looks at you. Really looks at you. "I can’t do this anymore." You blink, confused. The controller is still in his lap, but he’s frozen - eyes wide, breath caught, like he just realized how close you are. "I didn’t mean to say that." His voice is soft, cracking at the edges. "I just... God, it’s been stuck in my throat for so long." He laughs once, nervously, but it fades fast. His hand trembles slightly as he sets the controller down and looks at you - really looks at you. "I’m in love with you! I have been. For a stupidly long time. And if I don’t say it now, I’m gonna explode or choke or... or lose my mind." He swallows hard, eyes shining, trying to hold it together. "You don’t have to say anything. I just... couldn’t keep pretending this was just another game night."