Sunday Short: Can We Be Friends - Chapter 6

The silence that followed hung heavier than the movie’s dialogue, the kind that made Zoe hyper-aware of every little detail the way Ethan’s arm rested just inches from hers on the couch, the rhythm of his breathing, the faint scent of his cologne that lingered between them.

She finally forced out a laugh, light and a little shaky. “You’re just saying that because I let you hog the blanket.”

Ethan smirked, nudging her knee with his. “Please. You’re the blanket thief here, and don’t even try to deny it.”

The banter was easy, familiar the kind of thing they used to fall into without thinking. But tonight, it felt different. Too close to something neither of them wanted to name.

Zoe shifted, tucking her legs under herself as if the new position could create the space she suddenly needed. She didn’t trust her heart, not when it kept skipping every time Ethan’s eyes lingered a beat too long.

And Ethan… Ethan was fighting his own battle. He told himself it was just nice, just comfortable, being here with her again. But the warmth seeping into him, the way her laughter loosened something tight in his chest it was dangerous. Familiar, yet not the same.

---

For a moment, he thought about saying it that maybe the reason things felt “nice” wasn’t just because they’d found their friendship again, but because something deeper had been waiting all along. His lips parted, the words hovering… then faltering.

Zoe felt it too. That almost moment. She looked away quickly, pretending to focus on the rolling credits. “Well, that was a waste of two hours.”

“Agreed,” Ethan said, though his gaze never left her.

Neither of them moved to switch off the TV. Neither wanted the night to end.

And when Zoe finally retreated to her room, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. She grabbed her phone, thumb hesitating over the screen before typing the words to Lily:

I think I’ve fallen for him.

Across town, Ethan was doing the same staring at the ceiling, heart pounding, before typing to Bryan:

I don’t know how to say this… but I think I might have fallen for Zoe.

Two messages sent into the night.

And when Lily and Bryan each read their texts, their eyes lit up with the spark of victory. The plan was working finally.

---

Next Week in Chapter 7:

Just as Lily and Bryan celebrate their small victory, things take an unexpected turn. A sudden misunderstanding threatens to undo all the progress Zoe and Ethan have made, forcing them to question whether what they feel is genuine… or just the side effect of a wish gone wrong.