The door to Steve's dorm closed with a soft click. The room was dim, lit only by the warm glow of his desk lamp and the fairy lights strung along the wall. Music played faintly in the background — something soft, something slow.
Michelle stood in the middle of the room, hugging herself.
"Want something to drink?" Steve asked, moving to the little fridge in the corner.
She shook her head. "No, I'm okay."
He turned and noticed the way she looked—quiet, distant, thoughtful. Not sad, exactly. But not entirely present either.
He walked over and gently touched her arm. "Hey. You alright?"
Michelle looked up at him. Her eyes were soft, full of something she hadn't shown him before. Vulnerability.
"I've never really told anyone this," she said slowly, "but when I was younger… I used to think I wasn't someone people would choose."
Steve frowned, but didn't interrupt.
"Like—I was always the side friend, the backup, the girl people came to when they needed comfort, but not the one they fell in love with."
She looked away, blinking quickly. "It messes with your head, you know? Even now… being with you, I keep thinking, What if this isn't real? What if he changes his mind?"
Steve stepped closer, carefully. He touched her cheek, gently guiding her eyes back to his.
"Michelle," he said, voice low but steady, "you're not a backup. You're not second choice. You're my choice. From the beginning. You don't have to doubt that."
Her eyes shimmered, but she smiled. "You say that now."
"I'll say it every day if you need me to."
Then he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, protectively.
She buried her face in his shoulder. "I think I'm falling in love with you," she whispered.
Steve pulled back just enough to see her face.
"I think I already have," he said.
Then he kissed her. A kiss full of emotion, of everything they hadn't said yet, and everything they were afraid to say too soon.
When they finally sat down on his bed, tangled in each other's arms, the music played on. The night outside was quiet, but in that little dorm room, two hearts beat louder than the world around them.