The next day started off normal.
And that should've been my first warning.
Because nothing in this house stays normal for long.
3:00 PM
I was in my room, minding my business, scrolling aimlessly through a dozen apps and looking for something — distraction, dopamine, escape, who knows.
Then came the knock.
Not from Elena.
From Dad.
Which was already weird.
"Hey, champ," he said, sticking his head in. "Elena said you two were gonna watch something tonight. Mind if I bail? I've got a late client dinner."
I blinked. "Wait, you were gonna join?"
"Yeah, but she said it's not a big deal."
Of course she did.
"Cool," I said, trying to keep my face from doing anything suspicious.
He gave me a thumbs up. "You're a good kid, Aaron."
And just like that, he was gone.
Leaving me to spiral in peace.
7:00 PM — "Movie Night"
I came downstairs to find the living room transformed.
Blanket fort? Check.
Popcorn? Check.
Mood lighting? Absolutely suspicious check.
Elena was sitting cross-legged on the couch in black leggings and a loose sweater that fell off one shoulder like a plot device.
"Oh," she said, smiling when she saw me. "You made it."
I tried to be normal.
"I live here."
Nailed it.
She laughed and patted the spot next to her. "Pick a movie."
I sat down, not too close, and grabbed the remote. "Something light?"
"No horror," she warned.
"No romcoms either."
"Why not?"
I stared at her. "You really wanna sit through two hours of unresolved sexual tension on top of what we already got going here?"
She went pink. "Fair."
We settled on an old action-comedy — something loud and fast and exactly what I needed to focus on literally anything else.
It didn't work.
One Hour Later
We were both under the same blanket.
Not touching.
But close.
Way too close.
I don't even remember what was happening in the movie. I just remember her laugh. The soft way she leaned into the cushions. The warmth radiating from her leg near mine.
Every time she shifted, my brain short-circuited.
"This is nice," she said suddenly.
I turned to look at her.
Mistake.
Her face was way too close.
Her eyes were soft, unfocused.
"Yeah," I said, voice barely working. "It is."
We looked at each other.
Too long.
Way too long.
Her breath caught just slightly.
My heart pounded like it wanted out of my chest.
And then—
She looked away.
Fast.
"I should go to bed," she said, already standing up.
"Right. Yeah. Sleep. Good idea."
She grabbed her glass of water and walked toward the stairs.
But just before she disappeared, she looked back.
"Thanks for not making this weird," she said.
I wanted to laugh.
Because this was the weirdest night of my life.
Instead, I just nodded. "Anytime."
She left.
And I sat there alone.
Under a blanket that still smelled like her shampoo.
The Next Morning
Milo texted me:
soooooo
how's forbidden movie night?
did she wear one of those sweaters that scream "accidentally intimate" or
did u two act normal like healthy people???
I didn't reply.
Because I didn't know the answer.
Later That Day
We didn't talk about it.
We pretended it was just a regular movie night.
But something had changed.
Every glance was loaded now.
Every brush of the hand was a landmine.
We were dancing on the edge of something neither of us could say out loud — not because it wasn't there, but because it absolutely was.
And we were both afraid of what would happen if we stopped pretending otherwise.
📘 End of Chapter 9
💬 YOUR TURN!
What do you think Elena almost said before she got up?
Is Aaron going to break first… or is Elena already one step ahead?
👇 Drop your favorite line or wildest theory in the comments!
❤️ If this chapter made you clench your soul, tap that like!
🔔 Follow for Chapter 10 — because we're officially past the point of no return.