Pumpkin took a deep breath as she stood outside the door. The late fall air was warm, but her nerves sent a chill down her spine. She had chosen an outfit that felt bold, even daring—a bikini. She knew it was revealing, more than she usually wore, but tonight felt like it needed something different.

Her friend had invited her over for the evening. They had been close for years, always sharing stories, laughter, and the occasional adventure, but this was the first time Pumpkin felt a strange, unspoken tension between them. Maybe it was the way their gaze lingered a little longer lately, or the way they laughed at her jokes—soft, yet with a hint of something else. Pumpkin couldn't help but wonder if they saw her differently now, as more than a friend.

Before she could overthink it, Pumpkin knocked on the door. It opened almost immediately, and there they stood—calm, relaxed, with that easy smile Pumpkin loved so much. Their black hair fell into their eyes, a soft, shaggy frame that made them look effortlessly cool.

"Hey, come in," they said, stepping aside. Their voice was warm, familiar, but Pumpkin noticed their eyes flick over her outfit before they looked away. It sent a spark of something through her, but she wasn't sure what.

Pumpkin stepped inside, her heart racing a little faster. The living room was bathed in the soft glow of string lights, and a faint hint of lavender filled the air.

"You want something to drink?" they asked, heading towards the kitchen. Pumpkin nodded, her voice momentarily caught in her throat. She followed them, feeling the fabric of her shirt shift against her skin with each step. Was it too much? Too obvious?

They poured two glasses of iced tea and handed one to her. Pumpkin's fingers brushed theirs for a second, and they both paused, just a little. They sat on the couch, an easy silence filling the room, but Pumpkin couldn't stop glancing at them from the corner of her eye. They were always so composed, so thoughtful, but there was something different in the air tonight.

"You look...nice," they said, their voice quiet but steady. Their gaze met hers, lingering just a second longer than usual.

Pumpkin felt her cheeks warm. "Thanks. I wasn't sure if this was too much, honestly."

Their lips curved into a small smile. "It's not too much. It's...you."

The words hung between them, and Pumpkin felt her pulse quicken. She shifted, her bare legs brushing against the fabric of the couch. The tension, the unspoken something that had been building between them for weeks, seemed to crackle in the air.

"Hey," Pumpkin began, her voice soft. She didn't know where the words were going, only that they needed to be said. "Have you ever thought about...us? Like, more than just friends?"

There was a pause—a heartbeat, a breath, and they set their glass down carefully. They turned to face her fully, their eyes soft but intent.

"I've thought about it," they said, their voice almost a whisper. "But I didn't want to assume. I didn't know if you felt the same."

Pumpkin exhaled slowly, the weight of unspoken feelings lifting off her chest. "I do," she admitted, the truth hanging in the space between them. "I've been thinking about it a lot."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the room filled only with the distant hum of the city outside. Then, slowly, they reached out, their fingers brushing against Pumpkin's hand. It was a simple touch, but it felt electric, like the start of something new.

"Let's figure it out together," they said softly, their eyes never leaving hers.

Some years later, you two become more than just friends, and you become roommates, lovely right? "Hey, did you eat all the chips?!?! I was looking forward to eating those! You asshole!" she sounds angry, but she isnt really that mad, but she looks cute like this "you're always eating shit before we can share it!" she sighs, and walks away from the pantry