The room felt quieter after that.
Not silent—Ethan was still there, which made true silence impossible—but calmer.
At least for a moment.
Ethan stretched and glanced at the clock.
"Well," he said, "I should probably leave before I get blamed for ruining another almost-kiss."
My head snapped toward him.
"You are definitely getting blamed."
He grinned.
"I accept that."
Austin shook his head.
"You should go."
"I know, I know," Ethan said, standing up. "I have a life too, you know."
"Barely," I muttered.
He pointed at me.
"Hey. Respect the chaos king."
"No"
He laughed and grabbed his bag.
Then he walked toward the door, but paused before stepping out.
He turned back to us with a suspiciously soft expression.
"Hey," he said.
We both looked at him.
"Text me if anything happens," he added
I blinked.
"…What kind of 'anything'?"
He smirked.
"You know exactly what kind."
"Ethan," I warned.
"Alright, alright, I'm going!"
He opened the door and stepped outside.
Then, just before closing it, he leaned his head back in.
"No interruptions this time!"
"GO!" I shouted.
He laughed and finally shut the door.
Silence.
Real silence.
I stood there for a second, staring at the door.
Then slowly turned around.
Austin was still in the same spot.
Watching me.
And suddenly…
My heart started racing again.
"Well," I said awkwardly.
"Well," he echoed.
I walked back toward the couch and sat down, trying to act normal.
He sat beside me again
Not too close.
But close enough.
"So," I said, picking at a loose thread on the pillow.
"So?"
"We were… talking earlier."
"Yeah."
"Before Ethan showed up."
He nodded slightly.
"I remember."
I hesitated.
Then looked at him.
"You didn't finish what you were doing."
Straight to the point.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest after I said it.
Austin raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"No."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Are you sure you want me to?"
My breath caught slightly.
Why did he have to say things like that so calmly?
"I don't know," I admitted.
"Fair."
"But…" I added.
He leaned in just a little.
"But?"
I swallowed.
"…I didn't stop you either."
That was all it took.
The air shifted again.
Austin's expression softened slightly.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I noticed."
My heart was beating way too fast now.
"You think too much," he added.
"I know."
"And you panic."
"I also know."
He smiled a little.
"But you're still here."
I looked at him.
"So are you."
"Yeah."
A small pause.
Then—
"Can I try again?" he asked.
My breath hitched.
He didn't move.
Didn't rush.
Just waited.
Giving me time.
A choice.
Which somehow made everything feel more real.
More serious.
I looked at him.
Really looked this time.
At the way he was watching me.
Carefully.
Like he didn't want to mess this up.
And for once…
I didn't overthink.
I didn't panic.
I just nodded.
"Okay."
That was all he needed.
Austin leaned in slowly.
Closer.
Closer.
My heart was racing so loud I was sure he could hear it.
For a split second, I wondered if something would interrupt again.
Ethan bursting in.
My phone buzzing.
Something ridiculous happening.
But nothing did.
No noise.
No chaos.
Just us.
And then—
He lips landed on mine.
Soft.
Careful
Like he was still giving me time to pull away.
But I didn't.
I couldn't.
My brain had completely shut down.
All I could feel was the warmth, the closeness, the moment finally happening without being interrupted.
It only lasted a few seconds.
But it felt longer.
When he pulled back, everything felt… different
Quiet.
Still.
I blinked.
"…Oh."
Smooth.
Very smooth.
Austin laughed softly.
"Yeah."
I covered my face with my hands.
"Oh my gosh."
"What?"
"That actually happened."
"It did."
I peeked at him through my fingers.
"That was my first kiss.", except from the last time he kissed me in they empty classroom, but I didn't say it out loud.
His expression changed slightly.
"Really?"
I nodded.
"Yeah."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Now I feel like that was a big deal."
"It is a big deal!"
"Okay, now I'm nervous."
I laughed despite myself.
"Too late for that."
"Fair."
I lowered my hands slowly.
Neither of us moved away.
Which felt… nice.
Not awkward.
Just… close.
"So," he said.
"So?"
"This definitely isn't just a 'hangout' anymore."
I smiled slightly.
"No. It's not."
He looked at me.
"You okay with that?"
I thought about it.
About everything.
The fair.
The chaos.
Mary.
Ethan.
The almost-moments.
And now this.
"Yeah," I said quietly.
"I think I am."
He smiled.
"Good."
Before either of us could say anything else—
My phone buzzed loudly on the table.
We both looked at it.
Then at each other.
I groaned.
"Of course."
Austin laughed.
"Should we ignore it?"
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
The phone buzzed again.
And again
Ethan.
Obviously.
I grabbed it, turned it face down, and pushed it aside.
"Not today," I said.
Austin smiled.
"Good choice."
I leaned back slightly, finally relaxing.
For the first time since all of this started…
There was no interruption.
No chaos.
Just a quiet moment that actually lasted.
And somehow…
That made it even more special.
Even if I knew—
The moment Ethan found out?
Things were about to get very, very loud again.