When the Game Gets Too Real
The sun was barely peeking over the trees, casting long golden shadows across the porch.
Nora stood leaning against the railing, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised like a disappointed older sister.
Harrison had just joined her, clutching a cold soda and looking like he knew he was about to get grilled.
"Alright, Romeo," Nora began, voice calm but cutting, "we need to talk."
Harrison groaned. "Can we not? Just let me enjoy the silence for five seconds."
"Nope. You kissed Amelia."
He paused, mid-sip. "Technically, she didn't stop me."
"Harrison!" Nora hissed, swatting his arm.
"I told you to play along, play along, not dive headfirst into a full-blown emotional hurricane."
He laughed nervously.
"Okay, okay, maybe I got a little... caught up."
"You think?" she said, pacing now.
"This wasn't the plan.
I asked you to get close to her just enough to poke Eli's jealousy.
Stir him up a bit so he'd stop dragging his feet."
"You act like I kissed her just to cause chaos," Harrison muttered, staring into his drink.
Nora turned sharply to him. "Didn't you?"
Silence.
Then, Harrison sighed. "No. I didn't plan it.
I swear, Nora.
But being around her again… I don't know.
It's like something rewound in my brain.
Like we're seventeen again and she's still the girl I left behind."
Nora's expression softened, but only a little.
"You did leave her behind.
You left all of us behind, Harry.
One day you were with us, the next, poof! Gone. No goodbye, no calls, not even a birthday message."
"I know," he said quietly.
"And trust me, I regret it more than you think.
I wanted to reach out a hundred times, but…" He shrugged.
"I thought maybe you'd all moved on. That I'd been forgotten."
"Oh, come on," Nora said, rolling her eyes. "You seriously think Amelia, of all people, forgot you?"
"I didn't know she remembered me like that," he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.
"But the way she looks at me now… Nora, it isn't very clear. It's messing with my head."
Nora tilted her head.
"Is it confusing? Or are you just catching feelings again because you never stopped?"
He didn't answer immediately. Then— "Maybe."
She huffed.
"This is exactly why I told you to 'just flirt and back off.
Not lock lips in the middle of the kitchen like you were auditioning for a drama series."
"Hey, it was more Indian romance, if you ask me," Harrison joked, raising his brows.
Nora deadpanned. "You are not funny."
"Come on. Just a little?"
"Nope."
He grinned sheepishly.
"Okay, fine.
But seriously, it wasn't about making Eli jealous.
Not anymore.
When I'm around her, it's like all the years away meant nothing.
I feel everything again, maybe even stronger.
But I get it... this wasn't the plan."
She softened then, exhaling.
"It's not that I don't want you to be happy, Harrison.
I do.
We all do.
"But this group is becoming fragile.
We've all grown up, and the old feelings, the unsaid things, they're back now, and they're louder than ever.
If this turns messy, we all lose."
"I know," he said, voice barely above a whisper.
"But what if this is my only shot to say or do what I should've done years ago?"
Nora groaned dramatically, slapping his arm again.
"You hopeless romantic.
I swear, you're worse than Eli. At least he broods quietly."
"They both chuckled, the tension melting a bit.
"Just promise me one thing," she said, nudging him with her elbow.
"Hmm?"
"No more surprise kisses.
At least not until the next group meeting. Or Eli might spontaneously combust."
Harrison smirked. "Can't promise. But I'll try."
"Good." She pointed at him. "Because if this whole thing blows up in your face, I'm making you do dishes.
For a week."
He bowed mockingly. "Fair enough, Your Highness."
They laughed, but underneath it, the weight of the conversation still lingered.
Because the game had become real.
And hearts were now in play.
The Knock at My Door
A soft knock pulled Amelia out of her thoughts.
She had been sitting on the floor of her room, knees to her chest, the dim light from her bedside lamp casting long shadows across the wall.
She hadn't even touched the cup of tea she had made an hour ago. Her mind had been far too noisy.
Another knock. Then
"It's me. Harrison."
Her heart skipped, then stumbled. Slowly, she stood and opened the door.
He was there in a plain gray hoodie and socks, no shoes, a quietness in his expression she hadn't seen since he returned.
"Can I come in?" he asked gently.
She nodded, stepping aside.
The door closed with a soft click behind him.
He stood awkwardly for a second before settling down on the edge of her bed.
She returned to her spot on the floor, back against the wall.
"So," she said, voice calm but distant, "you kissed me."
He winced. "Yeah… I did."
The silence that followed was heavy but not hostile, like a quiet storm building somewhere far off.
Amelia glanced at him. "Why?"
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together.
"Honestly? I don't know.
Maybe because everything felt so... familiar.
Being around you again, it's like I got transported back. Before everything changed."
"You mean before you left," she replied, not accusingly, just stating the obvious.
He looked at her, regret softening his voice.
"I never meant to vanish like that.
My parents made the call, and I just... went. I told myself I'd stay in touch.
But I didn't. And I hate that."
She nodded slowly, not looking at him.
"You hurt me, Harrison.
You were my closest friend. Then you left without even saying goodbye.
I didn't even get a text."
"I know. And I've thought about that every single year since."
He stood and moved closer, sitting on the floor beside her now. "I never stopped thinking about you."
Her breath hitched slightly, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.
"But Amelia," he continued, "I also didn't come back expecting to feel this way.
I thought we'd all just... pick up as friends.
Laugh about old times.
And then suddenly, I'm in the kitchen with you, and it's like time bent around us.
And I kissed you because, God, it felt so real."
She shook her head slowly, eyes fixed on her fingers. "But it complicated everything. Eli…"
"I know." His voice lowered. "I didn't mean to ruin things for you. Or for the group."
Amelia turned to face him fully now, her voice quieter.
"Eli's been my constant.
He's been there all these years.
He knows me better than anyone. But he never told me how he felt.
Not clearly. Not until now… maybe."
"And now he's watching us like we're a slow-motion accident," Harrison added dryly, making her crack a tired smile.
"It's not funny," she said, though her tone had softened.
"No," he said, a sad grin tugging at his lips.
"But if I don't laugh a little, I might cry. And you've seen enough of my drama for one week."
They both chuckled, then went quiet again.
After a beat, Harrison spoke, more serious. "Do you still feel something, Amelia? For me? Or was it just the nostalgia?"
She looked at him. The Harrison she once knew was still in there, but older now.
Wiser. Still with that boyish charm and the storm behind his eyes.
"I don't know," she whispered honestly.
"I think a part of me always wondered what would've happened if you stayed.
And when you kissed me, it was like that part of me came to life. But... I don't know what to do with it."
Harrison gave a slow nod. "Fair enough."
They sat in silence again, the room dim and still.
Then he stood, brushing imaginary dust off his hoodie.
"I'll give you space.
I just needed you to know, I didn't kiss you to win some game.
I kissed you because I meant it."
Amelia stood too, her voice barely above a breath. "I know."
He reached for the doorknob, then paused.
"If this gets messy, I'm sorry. I'd rather lose the kiss than lose you."
She looked up at him, eyes searching. "Maybe we're already a little messy."
He smiled faintly. "Then let's not get messier."
And with that, he slipped out the door, closing it gently behind him.
Shadows at Sunrise
Eli hadn't been able to sleep.
He tossed and turned for most of the night, his thoughts circling like vultures, never landing, just hovering, waiting for a weak moment.
So he gave up trying.
At the crack of dawn, hoodie on, he stepped out onto the hallway for some air… only to freeze in his tracks.
Harrison.
Coming out of Amelia's room.
Eli stood still. Not even a breath.
Harrison, caught off guard, paused mid-step.
His hand was still on the doorknob when he noticed Eli standing a few feet away.
They locked eyes.
A long, silent second passed between them. Neither spoke.
Harrison gave a nod, not smug, not apologetic. Just a nod.
Eli nodded back, his jaw clenched.
And then Harrison walked away.
The door to Amelia's room stayed closed.
Eli didn't move for a while. His stomach sank like an anchor thrown into deep water.
There it was, the thing he hadn't wanted to believe.
That Harrison might have meant something more to Amelia.
That she might be thinking of him… the boy who left and returned with a kiss.
Eli sighed through his nose and rubbed his hand down his face.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Not with Amelia.
The Breakfast Nobody Wanted
The kitchen was filled with the smell of pancakes and awkwardness.
Nora stirred her tea unnecessarily long.
Kai tapped his spoon on the edge of his plate rhythmically.
Lena sat beside Nora, eyes bouncing between everyone like she was watching a silent movie with no subtitles.
Eli sat at the far end of the table, arms folded, staring at his untouched mug.
Amelia arrived last, hair tied in a messy bun, oversized shirt, and no eye contact with anyone.
She took the seat next to Lena, far from Harrison. Eli noticed.
"Morning," she mumbled.
"Morning," Kai echoed too cheerfully, trying to break the ice. "Who's hungry?"
Nobody responded. Even the pancakes looked uncomfortable.
"So…" Nora tried, shooting a glance at Harrison, then Eli, then Amelia. "Everyone sleep well?"
"I did," Lena chirped. "Not sure about you guys.
The tension in this kitchen is thicker than the syrup."
Kai snorted. "You said it, not me."
Harrison cleared his throat. "Amelia, you okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied a little too fast, her fork stabbing into her pancake like it had offended her.
Eli finally looked up.
"You sure?" His tone was gentle, but everyone caught the edge beneath it.
Amelia glanced at him briefly, then looked away. "Yeah."
Silence.
Nora leaned forward, elbows on the table.
"Alright. What's going on? Because it's too early in the day to pretend like nothing's weird."
Lena raised a hand. "Seconded."
Kai nodded. "Thirded. Let's either talk about it or pass the syrup and talk about cartoons like old times."
Amelia sighed. "Nothing's going on."
"Come on," Nora said, not unkindly.
"You two have barely looked at each other all morning."
She nodded between Eli and Amelia.
"And Harrison… you've been moving like someone stepped on your heart."
Everyone froze.
"Well," Kai muttered under his breath. "Breakfast was fun while it lasted."
Harrison spoke first. "It's complicated."
"Understatement," Eli muttered.
Amelia rubbed her temple. "Can we not do this now?"
"We kind of have to," Lena said gently.
"Because this… tension? It's bleeding into everything.
We can't have a proper group hangout without someone looking like they're ready to combust."
The room was quiet again.
Then, Eli looked up directly at Amelia. "Did something happen last night?"
Her eyes widened slightly. "Eli"
"Just answer me."
Harrison cut in, voice low but firm. "She doesn't owe anyone an explanation."
Eli's eyes narrowed.
"Funny.
Coming from someone who left the group years ago and suddenly thinks he can pick up where he left off."
"Guys," Nora warned.
"No," Eli said.
"Let's call things what they are.
You left, Harrison.
You didn't text, didn't call, didn't write.
And now you're back, kissing people, acting like time stood still."
Harrison stood slowly.
"And you? You've been around all this time. So why haven't you said anything until now?"
Eli flinched.
The table fell back into silence, thick and unbreathable.
Amelia stood. "I didn't ask for this."
"We know," Lena said softly.
Amelia looked around the room, her friends, all of them pulled into the storm she didn't know how to stop.
"I just need time," she whispered. "Please."
And with that, she left them at the table.
Again.