You and Chloe were lying on her bed; smoking a half-finished cigarette while low punk music played from a shitty speaker. There was a pleasant silence, something comfortable and familar.
Then, Chloe turned to you, looking a little agitated. Her cigarette rested in the corner of her mouth as she gazed at you intently.
"If we only kiss once, it won't ruin our friendship, will it?"
She spoke a little anxiously, biting the cigarette filter while looking you in the eyes.
As much as she tried to disguise her true intentions with that question, the look in her eyes gave her away completely. She looked at you like she had never looked at anyone before—intensely, almost as if she were completely in love.
You smiled. “I’ve never kissed anyone before,” you said, still lying down on her bed. You touched your collarbone as you inhaled her secondhand smoke and hummed softly.
Chloe raised her eyebrows, surprised by what she had just heard. She didn’t think it was possible for someone as beautiful as you to have never kissed anyone before.
She sighed softly.
"But someone must have asked you out at least once, right?"
She took the cigarette out of her pierced mouth, still not believing her own ears.
“Mhm… I just don’t like them.”
Chloe looked at you in disbelief, completely incredulous. In her opinion, you were the most attractive girl she had ever seen. She thought for sure you’d have a whole line of boys—and girls—waiting to go out with you.
Shaking her head, she moved a little closer, lying down next to you on her side.
"Not even a single boy that you found hot enough to want to go out with?"
You hummed again. “No. And I’m not really into fem for fem,” you admitted. You were a femme yourself, but you preferred butch or masculine women. You flicked your cigarette, taking another drag.
Chloe sighed, shaking her head once more. But when you mentioned not being into fem for fem, her mood changed immediately. A new look crossed her face.
"You like masc girls, huh?"
“…Why are we talking about this again?” you asked, looking at her. You put out the cigarette on your arm, humming at the feeling. You liked it. Chloe knew you had that tendency, but she also knew not to comment.
Seeing you burn yourself, Chloe clenched her jaw in annoyance and frustration. She hated it when you did that, hated seeing you burn your beautiful skin.
She grabbed your arm, inspecting the fresh burn mark. While looking at it, she answered your question.
"I just think it's really weird how someone as pretty as you hasn't had a partner yet."
“…I don’t know.” You looked mildly surprised when she grabbed your arm but said nothing. There were already dozens of dots on your inner forearm from old burns.
Chloe looked at your arm, noticing all the small marks from previous burns. She sighed again and gently ran her fingers over the scars, her touch tender but tinged with sadness.
"I think you're really good at avoiding questions you don't want to answer, you know."
“Which one?” you asked, tilting your head, still lying on her bed, arm held up in her grasp. You smelled like tea leaves.
Chloe noticed the scent and smiled softly.
"Both, honestly."
She carefully placed your arm back down on the bed, then slowly traced her fingers up your arm, over your shoulder, up to your neck. She followed the delicate lines of your body, watching you all the while, her expression unreadable.
“Mhm,” you hummed gently, staring upwards.
Seeing you so evasive, Chloe’s expression turned mischievous. Lying next to you like this, so relaxed, so vulnerable—it gave her a crazy idea.
She let go of your arm and sat up slightly, looking down at you.
"I have a question for you."
“Okay.”
Chloe grinned, studying your face while thinking about her idea. She took a quick drag of her cigarette before speaking.
"Hypothetically, if a friend of yours were in love with you, how do you think you'd react?"
"I’d think they were stupid for doing that," you said without hesitation. Someone would have to be foolish to love you.
Chloe scoffed, rolling her eyes. In her opinion, it was much stupider to see someone as beautiful as you completely ignore the dozens of people who were probably in love with you.
"You're a cold-hearted girl, you know that?" she teased.
“Mhm.”
Chloe looked at you and realized you were treating this whole conversation like a joke. So, she decided to play dirty—to attack with something she knew you cared about.
She sighed, her expression turning a little cynical.
"And if Max was in love with you?"
“No.” That was all you said. Not even a second of hesitation. You shifted to lie on your side and faced her.
Chloe raised an eyebrow, a little surprised at how quickly and confidently you shut that idea down. Did you think Max couldn’t fall in love with you?
"Why not? Max is your best friend. What if she fell in love with you?"
Your eyes softened. You weren’t sure why you responded like that. But for some reason, the idea of having Max here instead of Chloe bothered you. “…No. You’re my best friend.”
Chloe’s expression shifted. She wasn’t expecting that. A warm feeling bloomed in her chest. She almost wanted to cry a little—if she weren’t so tough and cool, of course.
She took a moment before speaking again, this time in a softer tone.
"Okay, but hypothetically speaking again… if I fell in love with you, how would you react?"
You shifted, going quiet. She could smell your breath from how close you were—cigarettes, just like hers. “…Would you still be my best friend too?”
Chloe looked at you intently, taking in every detail of your expression. A tiny smile ghosted her lips when she caught the scent of her cigarette on you. She always thought it was hot when you smelled like her.
She tilted her head slightly, analyzing your face. Then, she answered quietly, a little nervously.
"Of course… I'd still be your best friend."
“Then… hypothetically, I would love you too,” you said gently, face still as calm as ever.
Chloe’s heart nearly stopped. Was this a confession? Or just an answer to a silly question?
Her eyes widened. Her whole body felt hot. Her heart pounded in her chest.
"Hypothetically, right?"
“Sure.”
She studied you for a long moment, desperate to figure out if you were serious or just messing with her.
"Hypothetically speaking… if I am in love with you, what do I do?"
“I don’t know. Hypothetically, it’s your choice.”
Chloe nodded, still watching you intently, like she was trying to read your mind.
"Got it. Hypothetically… do you mind if I do something, without it ruining our friendship?"
You blinked slowly, staring at her for a pause. Her bed was so warm, so cozy. You felt calm. Probably just the nicotine. “…Okay.”
Chloe’s heart pounded harder. You were so calm, so relaxed, while she felt like she was about to explode with nerves. You always avoided touch, but today you were lying beside her, so close, your hands almost touching.
She took a breath, then spoke gently.
"Hypothetically… can I touch you?"
“You already are,” you murmured, tilting your head as your hands lay lightly against each other.
Chloe nodded, her gaze darkening slightly. That wasn’t what she meant.
"Physically, I mean. Like… really touch you, in a non-friendly way. Hypothetically, of course."
She let out a nervous laugh.
“Mhm-hm… hypothetically,” you echoed. You both had kind of lost the meaning of the word.
Chloe exhaled slowly, her heartbeat loud in her ears.
"Hypothetically… I'd touch you like this, then."
She rested her hand gently on your waist.
She looked down at it, afraid to do more. But you seemed so calm, so natural about it.
"How does it feel? Hypothetically," she whispered.
You closed your eyes, humming. “…Nice.”
Chloe sighed, relieved.
She leaned in, her lips barely an inch from yours.
"Can I…"
“Mhmm.”
Hearing you say that, so lazy, so soft, sent shivers through her. It was real. You were here.
And she was going to kiss you.