The café was quiet that afternoon, bathed in golden light as the sun leaned into the weekend. Their usual corner table by the window was occupied by three familiar figures—Claire, Jade, and Amber—all sipping drinks and idly flipping through a magazine someone had left behind.
Jade was painting her nails a new glossy black, legs crossed, sunglasses pushed up into her messy hair. Amber, chewing a stirrer stick, was scrolling through her phone with one hand and texting with the other. Claire had her earbuds in, one out so she could still track the conversation.
It was a typical lazy day until Amber tilted her head and asked, "So... how's it going with Chris?"
Jade's nail brush froze mid-stroke. "Huh?"
Amber looked up, raising a brow. "You know. Your arrangement."
Claire didn't look up from her phone. "Please don't tell me you're about to give us a play-by-play."
Jade scoffed and quickly snapped back into her cool mask. "I could, but I'm far too considerate to traumatize Claire with the finer details of how flexible her brother is."
Claire finally glanced up and snorted. "Gross. Thanks for the reminder to never borrow his water bottle again."
They all laughed—Jade the loudest, Amber with a wicked grin, and Claire rolling her eyes like she regretted sitting down with them at all.
The next day, Chris finished toweling off his hair after a late-morning shower. His muscles ached pleasantly from training, and the cool water had done little to quiet the buzz in his head.
As he walked into the living room in a tank top and shorts, he found Claire curled up on the couch, a blanket over her lap, zoned out to some drama series on the TV.
"Weren't you supposed to go out today?" Chris asked, rubbing his neck.
Claire yawned. "Yeah, we planned to. But Jade forgot she won't be okay today."
He blinked. "Forgot… she'd be sick?"
Claire looked up, halfway through a sip of iced tea. "No, you idiot. You know, that time of the month."
Chris paused, then made an "ah" face, punching a fist lightly into his other palm. "Right. Okay. Makes sense."
Claire waved her hand lazily. "Why? Gonna go be her emotional support animal?"
Chris didn't answer. He was already turning back toward his room, an idea forming.
Fifteen minutes later, Chris was hunched over his desk, laptop open, scrolling through online forums.
"What to do when your girl's on her period?"
Bring snacks.
Be extra nice.
Offer to watch whatever she wants.
Chocolate. Ice cream. Maybe heating pads?
Chris mumbled under his breath, "Sounds like prepping for a storm."
He grabbed his backpack, stuffed his laptop and charger inside, then headed out. He made a quick stop at the nearby store and picked up a mix of chocolates, two flavors of ice cream, and some cookies, just in case.
The walk to Jade's place wasn't far, but the sun was hot. By the time he rang her doorbell, the ice cream was probably on the verge of rebellion.
The door creaked open, revealing Jade in an oversized hoodie, dark circles under her eyes, and hair in a bun so wild it might've housed birds.
She blinked at him. "What are you doing here?"
"You forgot you'd be miserable today," Chris said, holding up the grocery bag. "I didn't."
"I'm not in the mood for anything," she grumbled, leaning against the doorframe.
Chris frowned. "Gee, thanks. You think I came here to hook up? I brought snacks, not condoms."
Jade's face flickered with surprise. "Wait, what?"
"Chocolate," he said, pulling out a full bar like it was a peace offering. "Ice cream. And I brought my laptop. Thought you might wanna binge something."
Her eyes widened as she peeked into the bag. "You… seriously?"
"Yeah, now let me in before this stuff melts on your porch."
Still looking stunned, she stepped aside to let him in.
Back in her room, the lights were dim, blinds drawn, and her bed was a messy cocoon of blankets and heat packs. Chris kicked off his shoes, set the bag down on her nightstand, and pulled his laptop out.
"What are we watching?" he asked, settling against her pillows and booting up the screen.
Jade climbed onto the bed and flopped next to him, curling into his side. Her arms slid around him tightly, face pressed into his shoulder.
"You're gonna make me cry, you moron," she mumbled. "This is dangerous."
Chris smiled softly. "Then cry after you eat your ice cream."
They ended up watching a rom-com series she half-remembered liking, the laptop balanced in his lap. His right arm managed the mousepad, while his left rested gently across her back, fingers tracing mindless patterns on her hoodie.
She nestled against his side, warm and grateful, the tray of snacks untouched for now. Every once in a while, he felt her exhale into his chest, soft and steady.
Half an episode in, Jade whispered, "You messed up, you know."
Chris raised an eyebrow without looking away from the screen. "Huh?"
"You did this much. Now you won't get rid of me easily."
Chris chuckled under his breath. "Not sure I want to."
She closed her eyes, her grip on him tightening just a little. "Good."
And with that, she slowly drifted off in his arms, the laptop still playing, forgotten.
Chris sat there, holding her, stroking her back. Saying nothing.
But thinking everything.