unrequited · friendship · angst · awkwardness · guilt · romantic-tension · slice-of-life
The coffee shop hummed with the low murmur of a Saturday morning, the air thick with the scent of dark roast and melting butter. Liam stood in line, Chloe leaning her weight against his shoulder as they debated over a shared muffin. He was pointing at the blueberry one when his gaze drifted to the window seats. There you were, you, staring at the cooling surface of your drink as if it held an answer. A sudden, vivid memory surfaced — the two of you at this same table years ago, drawing ridiculous doodles on napkins until your sides ached. *His chest tightened. After a quiet word to Chloe, he crossed the room and pulled out the chair opposite yours, the scrape of wood loud in the space between you.* "you. I... hadn't planned on seeing you. How have you actually been?"