It was Sunday, and I was hanging out with my good friend Alex at our usual café in town. He’d been helping me edit the book I was w on, spotting mistakes and plot holes I might have overlooked.

  Alex doesn’t go to the same school as me, but we usually hang out on Sundays—not just for my writing, but because we genuinely enjoy each other’s pany.

  He’s also been my best friend since middle school.

  Alex’s face reddened as anuy whistled at him, throwing him a suggestive look.

  I couldn’t help but snicker slightly. Those guys would be horrified if they knew Alex was definitely not a girl. He just happens to be a very feminine-looking guy.

  To be ho, I probably would have thought the same if we hadn’t showered together when we were younger. So yeah—Alex is definitely a guy.

  A guy who, ironically, looks more feminine aiful than most girls.

  “It’s not funny, you know. I’m sick of it,” he pined, whily made him look even cuter.

  I smirked at Alex as he scowled at the guy who had whistled at him.

  “e on,” I teased. “At least take it as a pliment.”

  Alex huffed, crossing his arms. “Easy for you to say. No one ever mistakes you for the opposite gender.”

  I shrugged. “Not my fault you were bory.”

  Alex groaned, running a hand through his silky dark hair. “Ugh. I swear, one day, I’m just gonna start growling at people who do that.”

  I snorted. “I’d pay to see that.”

  Alex rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything else, I felt it.

  That weird sixth sehe feeling when someone is staring at you.

  I turned my head slightly—and there she was.

  Astrid.

  Standing a few feet away, arms crossed, watg me.

  Oh, this is gonna be fun.

  She wasn’t alone—Jane was with her. And judging by the way Jane was nudging her repeatedly while whispering something, she had already figured out that Astrid was ag off.

  Astrid, oher hand, had a tight, unreadable expression. The kind that screamed I am not jealous but also definitely not happy about this.

  I casually took another sip of my drink, enjoying myself.

  “Hey, Alex?” I said.

  Alex looked at me. “Yeah?”

  I owards Astrid. “We’re about to have pany.”

  Alex turned, following my gaze. He paused for a sed, eyes flig between Astrid and me before smirking. “Ohhh… that’s Astrid, huh?”

  I sighed. “Don’t start.”

  Too te.

  Astrid and Jane walked up, Jane looking way too amused, while Astrid… well, she was holding herself together suspiciously well.

  “Henry,” Astrid greeted coolly.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Astrid.”

  She gave me a slow once-over, then turo Alex, her lips curling into something that was almost a smirk—but her eyes betrayed something else.

  “And who’s this?” she asked, her voice polite but way too ral.

  Alex smiled, already catg on. “I’m Alex.”

  Astrid’s gaze didn’t waver. “Oh. So you’re the one Henry has been sneaking off with.”

  I sighed. “Astrid—”

  “Don’t mind her,” Ja in, grinning. “She was very surprised to see Henry hanging out with someohat wasn’t her.”

  Astrid shot Jane a look.

  Jane just smirked.

  Alex, never oo waste an opportunity, propped his elbow oable aed his on his palm. “Ahhh, so this is the infamous Astrid. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  Astrid blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Wait… you’ve heard about me?”

  Alex hummed, nodding. “Oh yeah. Henry talks about you all the time.”

  I groaned. “Alex.”

  Astrid perked up instantly, turning to me. “Oh? All the time, huh?”

  I rubbed my temples. “This is why I don’t introduce you to people.”

  Alex grinned wickedly. “But it’s so much fun.”

  Astrid tilted her head at me, a teasing glint in her eyes no, Henry. If I didn’t know aer, I’d think you liked me.”

  I scoffed. “If I didn’t know aer, I’d think you were jealous.”

  Astrid didn’t even flinch.

  “Who says I’m not?”

  Oh.

  Well, that’s new.

  She didn’t eveate.

  I should say something. Make a joke. Call her bluff.

  But for some reason… I don’t.

  Instead, I just blink at her, caught in that moment for a sed too long.

  Jane wheezed. “Oh my God.”

  Alex whistled. “Damn. Bold.”

  Astrid smirked, clearly satisfied with the rea she got.

  I exhaled, shaking my head with a small chuckle. “You’re impossible.”

  “A,” she said smoothly, “you still hang out with me.”

  Alex nudged my arm. “I like her. She’s fun.”

  Astrid grinned. “Thank you, Alex. Finally, someoh taste.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You two do not o team up.”

  Jaill rec from ughter, cpped a hand on Astrid’s shoulder. “Alright, I’ve seen enough. Astrid, you so have a thing for Henry.”

  Astrid scoffed. “I do not.”

  Jane smirked. “You so do.”

  Astrid huffed, crossing her arms. “Whatever. Henry, I’m stealing you now.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  Alex chuckled, giving me a look. “Guess yirlfriend is possessive.”

  Astrid’s eyes narrowed.

  I smirked. “Alright, alright. Before Astrid actually murders someone, I’ll go.”

  Astrid scoffed. “Please. Like I’d waste my time.”

  Jatered, “You so would.”

  I stood up, stretg. “Alright, Alex, I’ll see you ter.”

  Alex waved. “Later, lover boy.”

  Astrid kicked my ankle.

  I ughed, following her and Jane as they dragged me away.

  As we walked, Astrid stayed quiet for a sed, her expression unreadable.

  Then, just as smoothly as ever, she looped her arm around mine.

  I gave her a look. “Now who’s being possessive?”

  She grinned. “Oh, shut up. You like it.”

  Jane suddenly smirked and stepped away. “Actually, I think I’ll stay here. I’ve always wao try their drinks. I might just chat with Alex,” she said, waving goodbye.

  “Oh, you—” I started to say.

  “Okay… thanks for today, Jane,” Astrid cut me off smoothly.

  Jane just gave us a knowing smile, which made me scratch my head and suddenly feel very self-scious about the girl currently ed around my arm.

  **

  Astrid didn’t let go of my arm as we walked, her grip casual but firm—like she wasn’t even thinking about it.

  I, however, was.

  I g her. “You know, you let go now.”

  She hummed. “Don’t feel like it.”

  I sighed. “Astrid.”

  “Henry,” she mimicked, smirking.

  I rolled my eyes, deg not to give her the satisfa of reag. If she wao g, fi wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

  After a few moments of walking, she suddenly asked, “So… what’s the deal with Alex?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  She shrugged, her fingers absentmindedly tightening around my sleeve. “You guys seem close.”

  “We’ve been friends since middle school,” I said. “He’s the only person who’s ever read my writing.”

  Astrid blinked. “The only person?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Huh.” She tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. “Ahe one who helps you edit?”

  “Yeah?” I frowned. “Why?”

  She shrugged. “Just w. He seems… fortable with you.”

  I snorted. “Should he not be?”

  She pursed her lips, looking away. “I didn’t say that.”

  I smirked. “Astrid, are you jealous of Alex?”

  She scoffed immediately. “What? No.”

  I hummed. “Mm-hmm.”

  She shot me a gre. “Don’t ‘mm-hmm’ me.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “A,” she said, repeating her words from earlier, “you still hang out with me.”

  I sighed. “I walked into that one.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  We kept walking, and for a while, her of us said anything. It wasn’t awkward—it was just fortable.

  Astrid’s fingers absentmindedly traced little circles on the fabriy sleeve. She probably wasn’t even aware she was doing it.

  Then, out of nowhere, she spoke again.

  “…I didn’t like seeing you with someone else.”

  I blinked.

  Turned my head slightly.

  Astrid was looking straight ahead, her expression unreadable.

  I studied her for a sed, then smirked. “So you were jealous.”

  She groaned. “Shut up.”

  “No, no, please, tinue,” I teased.

  She exhaled sharply, clearly regretting saying anything. “It’s not like that.”

  “Oh?”

  She finally let go of my arm, crossing her arms tightly instead. “I just… I don’t know. I wasn’t expeg it.”

  “Expeg what?”

  She hesitated.

  Then, quietly, she admitted, “To realize how much I like having you around.”

  I stilled slightly.

  That was… ued.

  Astrid must’ve realized how real that sounded because she immediately scoffed, rolling her shoulders back like she was shaking something off. “But whatever. It’s fine. I’m fine. You have other friends.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You’re allowio have friends now?”

  She gave me a ft look. “Don’t push it.”

  I smirked. “Noted.”

  We kept walking, aually, her arms fell back to her sides, her fingers brushing against mine.

  her of us moved away.

  ***

  We ended up at a small park, the kind with a few benches, a walking path, and a pyground that hadn’t been updated in years. It was quiet here—just a few kids running around and an elderly couple walking their dog.

  Astrid stretched her arms above her head a out a satisfied sigh. “Alright, Henry. What now?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Yed me away. Shouldn’t you have a pn?”

  She hummed, tilting her head. “Not really. Just wao steal you from Alex for a bit.”

  I smirked. “You were jealous.”

  She nudged me with her elbow. “Shut up.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “Alright, fine. I’ll py along. What do you usually do when you’re not h around me?”

  Astrid pursed her lips, thinking. “Hmm. I hang out with Jane sometimes, but she ditches me for her boyfriend. I go shopping when I’m bored, but that gets old fast.” She huffed. “Holy, I don’t do much.”

  I g her. “Sounds… b.”

  She gasped, pg a hand over her chest dramatically. “Henry! Are you calling me b?”

  I smirked. “If the shoe fits.”

  She groaned. “Ugh, you’re the worst.”

  “A,” I said casually, “you still hang out with me.”

  Astrid sighed, like she was deeply suffering. “Unfortunately.”

  I rolled my eyes but said nothing, choosing io sit down on one of the park benches.

  Astrid plopped down beside me, pulling her knees up onto the seat so she was sitting sideways, fag me.

  She watched me for a moment, head resting against the back of the bench. “Hey, Henry?”

  “Hm?”

  She hesitated, then asked, “Are you… happy?”

  I blinked, caught off guard. “That’s random.”

  She shrugged, pig at a loose thread on her sleeve. “I just realized… I don’t know much about your life outside of school. You’re always so chill about everything. It makes me wonder if you ever actually feel things.”

  I snorted. “Of course I feel things.”

  “Yeah?” She gave me a skeptical look. “Name ohing that actually makes you happy.”

  I thought about it.

  “…Reading,” I said finally. “Writing. Food. Sleeping.”

  Astrid groaned. “Ugh, you and your books.”

  I smirked. “You asked.”

  She rolled her eyes, but her expression softened. “Okay, fine. But, like… are you happy? With your life, I mean.”

  I sidered the question, looking up at the sky.

  “…I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t think about it much.”

  Astrid studied me for a moment.

  Then, to my surprise, she reached out and flicked my forehead.

  I blinked. “What the hell?”

  “That’s for beiionally unavaible,” she said.

  I scoffed. “You’re oo talk.”

  She gasped, dramatically pg a hand over her heart. “I am very emotionally avaible, thank you very much.”

  I gave her a ft look. “Astrid, you literally fake-smile your way through half your versations.”

  She opened her mouth—paused—then scowled. “Okay, rude.”

  I smirked. “Just saying.”

  She huffed, crossing her arms. “Fine. Maybe I do fake it sometimes.” She leaned back against the bench, gazing up at the sky. “It’s just easier, you know?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. I get it.”

  She g me, her expression unreadable. “You do?”

  I shrugged. “Yeah.”

  We sat in fortable silence for a while, just watg the wind rustle the leaves.

  Then, quietly, Astrid murmured, “I think I am happy… when I’m with you.”

  I stilled.

  Slowly, I turo her.

  She wasn’t looking at me. She was still staring at the sky, her expression unreadable.

  I swallowed, unsure how to respond.

  So, I didn’t.

  Instead, I reached down and nudged her foot lightly with mine.

  She blinked, finally gng at me.

  I smirked. “Careful, Astrid. If I didn’t know aer, I’d think you liked me.”

  She stared at me for a sed.

  Then, to my absolute surprise—

  She smiled.

  A real smile.

  Ohat wasn’t teasing, wasn’t smug. Just… warm.

  And before I could even process it, she nudged my foot back.

  “Maybe I do.”

  I blinked.

  And for the first time in a long time—

  I had no idea what to say.