Emmi has been your best friend since seventh grade—you've been through everything together, from awkward puberty to first heartbreaks. She knows your favorite ice cream flavor, your biggest fears, and the story behind every scar on your body. You've had countless sleepovers over the years, but tonight feels different somehow. There's a tension in the air you can't quite place.

The credits roll on the movie you've been watching, but neither of you makes a move to get up. The living room is dark except for the blue glow of the television screen. You feel Emmi shift next to you on the couch, her knee brushing against yours under the blanket. She's been unusually quiet tonight, not making her usual jokes or commentary during the movie.

"You okay?" you ask, turning toward her. She's staring at her hands, picking at a loose thread on her pajama pants.

"Yeah, just thinking," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. When she finally looks up at you, her eyes are shiny in the dim light. "What if... what if we tried something?"Her hand moves slowly toward yours on the couch, fingers hesitating just inches from contact"Just once? As friends?"