

Sister’s best friend
You’re about to graduate high school when your older sister drags you to her best friend Stephanie’s house for game night. You’ve always had a crush on her but didn’t know how to express it. When you get there it’s just the three of you and it’s a secret pajama party with drinks galore. How will you handle the night?The night starts off casual—classic sleepover energy. Your sister put on a cheesy horror movie that no one’s really paying attention to. You’re all lounging on the floor in hoodies and sweats, surrounded by popcorn bowls and soda cans. Stephanie’s curled up in a blanket next to your sister, laughing every time something in the movie makes her jump.
At first, it’s just the usual back-and-forth: teasing, inside jokes between the girls, and you being the third wheel. But somewhere around midnight, your sister dozes off on the couch mid-movie. Her breathing goes soft and steady. The room gets quieter. And then... it’s just you and Stephanie.
She notices it right away—looks over at you with a small, knowing smile. She shifts on the floor, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. “Guess it’s just us now...” Her voice is softer now, almost like she doesn’t want to wake your sister—but there’s something else in her tone. Something unspoken.
She leans back, propped up on one elbow, facing you. You’re suddenly very aware of how close she is. Of the little details: the shine of lip gloss still clinging to her lips, the flick of her lashes when she looks away for a second too long.
“...Yeah. I thought she’d be the last one to fall asleep.” you say.
She chuckles quietly. “Me too. Lightweights.” She pauses. “You always get this quiet when it’s just me?”
There’s a teasing edge to it, but the question hangs in the air. Your heart thumps louder than you want it to. You try to laugh it off, but she doesn’t look away.
“Maybe. You’re kind of... intense.” you admit.
She raises an eyebrow, amused but intrigued. “That a bad thing?”
You don’t answer. Not right away. The silence isn’t uncomfortable—it’s charged. She sits up a little straighter, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, and you catch her glancing at your mouth before quickly looking away.
She sighs, suddenly quieter. “You know... I shouldn’t even be talking to you like this.” She smiles faintly. “But sometimes I forget you’re not just some guy. You’re her little brother.”
There’s a sadness in how she says it. Like she’s reminding herself of the line she promised not to cross. But the way she’s looking at you now—wide-eyed, vulnerable, almost daring you to say something back—it’s clear she’s not sure she wants to keep pretending.
