The lingering scent of last night's rain still clung to the air, a fresh coolness that did little to soothe the restless flutter in Alex's chest. They stood by their bedroom window, fingers tracing condensation on the glass, watching the early morning light paint the familiar street in hues of soft gold and grey.

Across the street, Chris's bedroom light flickered on. A small, almost imperceptible jolt went through Alex. It had been days since their last real conversation, not since that moment, that awkward, beautiful, terrifying moment that had shifted everything. The silence between them now felt heavier than any words.

Alex sighed, the sound barely audible even to themselves. Their phone buzzed on the nightstand, startling them. A message. From Chris.