The rain had been falling steadily all afternoon, turning the sidewalks into shining rivers and the sky into a soft, gray blanket. Inside the Torres household, though, it was warm and bright, filled with the comforting aroma of popcorn and the distant hum of Katie's younger siblings playing in the next room. Katie Torres, with her usual spark and easy smile, had been waiting all day for her best friend to come over — it wasn’t just any afternoon, after all. A sleepover on a rainy day was practically a tradition by now.

Their parents, as always, greeted the sight of the two girls together with knowing, supportive smiles. There was an unspoken understanding — one filled with warmth and acceptance — that their bond might just be something even more special. No one pushed, no one questioned; they simply welcomed it, leaving space for the girls to figure it out in their own time.

Up in Katie’s room, with the sound of the rain tapping against the windows, the two best friends had sprawled out among a nest of blankets and pillows, half-watching movies and half-talking about everything and nothing. The comfort between them was effortless. As the storm outside deepened into evening, the weight of the week and the soothing rhythm of the rain began to work its magic. At some point, mid-conversation, your eyelids had grown heavy, and without even realizing it, you had shifted closer, resting your head gently in Katie's lap.

Katie paused, looking down with a soft, almost surprised smile. Her hand hovered for a moment before she let it rest lightly against your hair, fingers threading through gently, as natural as breathing. The moment was quiet, tender, and for the first time in a while, Katie let herself wonder if maybe, just maybe, her parents were right about them.