Heat in the Silence
The kitchen was dimly lit, the only light coming from the overhead pendant lamp above the island counter.
Amelia moved between dishes and soap, her sleeves rolled up again, apron stained from the earlier cooking frenzy.
She hummed softly under her breath, stacking clean plates beside her.
"Of course they all ran off after eating like kings," she mumbled to herself.
"This is what I get for having lazy, grateful friends."
She rinsed another pot, muttering as the water splashed over her hands.
"Cook for them, feed their bellies, now clean too? Unbelievable."
The soft creak of the door broke her rhythm.
She looked up, startled.
It was Harrison.
He walked in casually, in a faded tee and sweats, hair messy like he'd just rolled off a couch nap. But his eyes… they were alert.
Focused. And they were on her.
"Couldn't sleep," he said, moving to grab a towel and drying the plates she'd cleaned. "Figured I'd help."
She raised a brow. "Wasn't expecting help from you of all people."
He grinned. "What can I say? Your rants are too loud. Echoed into the hallway."
She tried to hide her smile but failed.
"Thanks, though," she said softly.
They worked in silence for a moment, the air thickening between them.
Every time their hands brushed, it felt deliberate. Every glance held something unspoken.
He passed her a bowl, his fingers grazing hers a second too long.
"Amelia," he said, voice lowering. "Do you even realize what you're doing to me?"
She blinked, confused. "What?"
"You.
Always smiling at us.
Laughing.
Comforting.
Cooking.
Just… being."
His hand rested on the cabinet as she turned to put a plate away. "It's killing me."
She turned and found herself cornered.
He had her backed against the cabinet, one arm on each side, blocking her path gently but firmly.
His eyes were inches from hers, dark and unreadable, flickering to her lips and back again.
"Harrison…"
"I've longed to kiss these lips," he murmured, his breath brushing her skin.
"You're so damn attractive, Amelia. Why are you doing this to me?"
"His voice was raw, laced with something that was equal parts frustration and desire.
"You're pulling your male friends' hearts all to yourself," he whispered, almost bitter.
"Do you even know what it's like watching you walk around like you don't know what you're doing to us?"
Amelia's breath caught.
His forehead pressed gently to hers. His lips were barely apart from hers now, soft, close, teasing the line between restraint and surrender.
"Tell me to stop."
She couldn't.
She didn't know what to say.
Her head was screaming yes and no at once, torn between her loyalty to the group, to Eli, and the truth burning in Harrison's touch.
Her silence was his permission.
He closed the gap.
The kiss was intense, urgent, and deep, with years of longing packed into seconds.
His hands slid around her waist, pulling her closer, until she could feel every inch of him against her.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.
Their breathing quickened, tangled in each other, the world shrinking to just lips, heat, and silence.
Until
"WHAT the hell."
They froze.
Harrison pulled away first. Amelia's lips were still parted, breathless.
Kai stood at the kitchen entrance, mouth slightly open, eyes wide.
The half-filled glass of water in his hand was forgotten.
"Seriously?" he said, voice sharp. "What's going on with this group?"
"Kai, it was just—" Amelia began, her voice cracking.
"Just what?" Kai cut in, stepping closer.
"Just a kiss? Just feelings? Just destroying everything we've built with one stupid moment?"
Amelia looked away, guilt rising in her throat.
Kai's voice grew louder.
"We're friends, Amelia. Friends.
"I thought we all agreed not to drag old school feelings back into this.
"I know what happened between you two before. But we're not teenagers anymore."
Harrison stayed silent, jaw tight, hands in fists at his sides.
"What if this is just lust?" Kai continued, eyes darting between them.
"What if it's just some high from all this reunion energy?
What if it crashes and ruins the entire group? Have you even thought about that?"
Amelia's eyes welled with something unspoken: shame, frustration, confusion.
Kai sighed, his voice softening.
"I came to help you clean up. But maybe you two should be figuring out what the hell you're doing instead."
He turned to grab a dish towel.
"Let's get to work."
The room fell into a tense, echoing silence.
Only the sound of running water filled the space now, interrupted hearts, unspoken explanations, and the ache of something begun… and caught too soon.
The Rooftop Reckoning
The night air was cool, brushing gently against Amelia's skin as she stood at the edge of the rooftop, arms crossed, hoodie sleeves pulled over her hands.
The quiet hum of distant cars below echoed faintly, mixing with the occasional night breeze.
She was still.
Still with the weight of too much happening in too little time.
Her thoughts were loud.
How am I supposed to answer this?
"That Harrison and I kiss?
Her fingers curled tighter into her sleeves.
That he leaned in, and I didn't stop him. That part of me didn't even want to.
She exhaled, long and heavy.
Her eyes searched the sky for answers. Stars blinked back, offering none.
And Eli… Eli has always been there.
Since before the group.
Always checking in, always holding space, always making me laugh when things got hard.
"But never… never once did he say anything.
She whispered aloud, voice shaky.
"I didn't think Harrison still felt that way. Not after all these years.
We were just young… it was goodbye and done. Or I thought it was. Until tonight."
She bit her bottom lip, heart racing.
"I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't even know what I wanted until he kissed me."
She looked down at the city lights.
"Now it feels like everything is crumbling. Harrison. Eli. The group. What have I done?"
"I've been talking to you for the past full minute," came a voice behind her.
She jumped.
It was Eli.
He stood there, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket, face unreadable, though something flickered briefly in his eyes.
"I tapped your shoulder… twice."
Amelia turned, startled, flustered.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't hear.
"I was just… thinking."
Eli took a few steps closer but kept a safe distance.
"I figured I'd find you here. You always come to the rooftop when something's weighing you down."
She looked away.
He waited a beat before asking, gently, "Is everything okay?"
She opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out.
Because how could she say the words?
No, Eli. Everything's not okay. I kissed Harrison in the kitchen tonight.
Or maybe he kissed me. I don't even know anymore.
Her silence said more than words.
Eli's brows drew together slightly. "You've been quiet since I got here.
He let the words hang between them.
"I know something happened."
She met his gaze at last.
"Eli… how am I supposed to answer this?"
He tilted his head, confused but focused.
"If I told you Harrison and I kissed… what would you even say?"
His lips parted slightly. But he said nothing.
"I didn't plan it. I didn't expect it.
"He helped me clean up, and we talked, and then suddenly… it was like all those feelings from years ago came rushing back.
The ones I thought he buried."
She exhaled shakily.
"I didn't push him away. I didn't even know what to do."
Eli's voice came low. "Do you… want to be with him?"
Her eyes widened. "I don't know! That's the problem, Eli. I don't know. Because you and I"
She stopped herself.
He looked up at her sharply. "Because you and I what?"
"We've always been close," she said, voice trembling now.
Since before the group.
You've always been there. But you never… You never said anything. You never showed me anything."
Eli stepped closer. "So you've been waiting for me to say something?"
Her throat tightened.
"I didn't know I was waiting. Until this started to feel like betrayal."
The wind picked up slightly. Silence hung between them, heavy and raw.
"I'm not blaming you," she said quickly. "This isn't your fault. I just"
He interrupted quietly. "You feel guilty because you think it meant something to me."
She nodded, ashamed. "Because you mean something to me, Eli."
His jaw clenched, his expression finally cracking.
"I didn't say anything," he began slowly, "because I didn't want to mess things up. I thought… I thought you knew."
She blinked at him, stunned.
"All those years," he continued, eyes dark with something that had been buried for too long. "I thought I was being obvious.
I thought staying close, always showing up, always choosing you, I thought that would be enough."
Amelia's breath caught in her throat.
"And maybe," he said bitterly, "maybe that's on me. Maybe I waited too long. And Harrison, "
He broke off.
She took a step forward. "Eli…"
But he held up a hand.
"No. I get it now. You don't owe me anything, Amelia. You never did. But don't act like this doesn't change things."
"He turned, started walking away.
"Eli, please don't."
He paused at the stairwell door.
"When you figure out what you want… let me know."
Then he was gone.