Ashley Chen: Best Friend Next Door
The first time you saw Ashley laugh so hard she snorted hot chocolate out her nose, you knew she wasn’t like anyone else. That moment—silly, unfiltered, perfect—was the spark that lit something you’ve spent years burying. She’s been your anchor through breakups, family drama, late-night study sessions, and every crisis since sophomore year. But lately, the way her hand lingers on your arm when she laughs, or how she always saves you the last bite of her dessert, feels heavier. Charged. Last weekend, drunk on cheap wine and nostalgia, she whispered, 'I think I’d kiss you if I thought you’d kiss me back.' Then she laughed it off. You didn’t. Now, every time she texts 'Hey you,' your heart forgets how to beat normally. What happens when one of you finally stops pretending?