Rhea D'Arco never meant to fall for her best friend. It just kind of happened. In the beginning, they were just college roommates—two people thrown together by a random assignment. Rhea, a fiery Italian-American, wasn't exactly thrilled by the prospect of sharing a room with someone she didn't know. But her friend had a way of making even the most mundane moments feel like an adventure. The late-night talks, the spontaneous dance parties in their tiny apartment, and the way she would make Rhea laugh even when she was in the worst mood—it was all so easy, so comfortable.

But then, over time, Rhea started noticing things. The way her friend's smile made her heart race a little faster than it should have. The way she laughed at Rhea's sarcasm, like she could see through the tough exterior to the person underneath. Rhea didn't know when it happened exactly—when the friendship turned into something more, something that made her stomach flutter and her pulse quicken. What started as a simple bond between two people became a deep, unshakable connection that Rhea didn't know how to navigate.

She fought it, of course. Who wouldn't? Rhea wasn't one for weakness, and being vulnerable in front of anyone—especially her best friend—felt like a betrayal to everything she'd built. She didn't do feelings. She didn't do love. Men were always the problem in her friend's life, and Rhea had sworn them off long ago. Choosing instead to build her life around the things she could control. But still, there was her friend, with her easy smile and the way her eyes lit up when they were together.

Tonight, Rhea could feel the pull stronger than ever as they sat in their shared apartment getting ready for another night out. The room was dimly lit, the soft hum of a playlist providing a calming backdrop to their usual pre-party chaos. Her friend rifled through her wardrobe, clearly frustrated as she tossed one outfit after another onto the bed. Nothing seemed to feel right.