Chapter 2
1082 Words
Chapter 2: Too Close for Comfort
“Monica, you’re staying over. No arguments.”
Kailey Anderson didn’t even wait for a response.
She was already dragging Monica by the wrist toward the hallway, laughing like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“It’s late, you live too far, and I refuse to let you book a ride alone,” Kailey continued. “End of discussion.”
Monica let herself be pulled along, shaking her head with a soft laugh.
“You’ve always been this bossy.”
“And you’ve always needed someone to make decisions for you.”
“That’s not true.”
“Sure it’s not.”
From across the room, Kian heard every word.
And immediately, something in him tightened.
“You’re letting her stay?” he asked, tone sharper than intended.
Kailey turned, confused. “Uh… yes? She’s my best friend.”
Kian’s gaze flickered briefly to Monica.
Bad idea.
Because she was already looking at him.
Again.
Calm.
Unreadable.
Like she was waiting for his reaction.
“It’s late,” Kailey repeated, as if that explained everything.
“It’s not that late.”
“It’s past midnight.”
“She can call a driver.”
“I said she’s staying.”
Final.
Non-negotiable.
Kian exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his hair.
“Fine.”
One word.
But it cost more than it should have.
Monica didn’t say anything.
But the small smile that tugged at her lips?
Yeah.
She noticed.
“Come on,” Kailey said, already pulling Monica again. “You’ll stay in my room like before.”
Like before.
The words hit differently now.
Because before… was years ago.
Before things got complicated.
Before Monica looked at him like that.
Kian stayed where he was.
But his eyes followed them anyway.
Watched as Monica disappeared down the hallway—
Until she was out of sight.
Only then did he move.
Hours later, the house had gone quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that made everything louder.
Thoughts.
Memories.
Temptation.
Kian stood in the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water he didn’t need.
Anything to keep busy.
Anything to avoid going to bed… and thinking.
Footsteps.
Soft.
Familiar.
He froze.
Just for a second.
Before turning.
Monica.
She stood at the entrance of the kitchen, barefoot, wearing an oversized shirt that definitely wasn’t hers—probably Kailey’s.
Her hair slightly messy.
Face bare.
No effort.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
“I didn’t think you’d still be up,” she said quietly.
Kian set the glass down, untouched.
“Could say the same about you.”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Try harder.”
She huffed a small laugh, stepping inside.
“Still as warm as ever, I see.”
“I’m not here to entertain you.”
“Good,” she replied easily. “I’m not here for that.”
Silence settled between them.
Thick.
Unavoidable.
Monica leaned lightly against the counter.
Not too close.
But not far either.
Just… there.
“You really don’t like me staying here,”
she said after a moment.
It wasn’t a question.
Kian’s jaw tightened.
“It’s not about that.”
“Then what is it about?”
“You being here complicates things.”
Her brow lifted slightly. “Complicates what, exactly?”
He didn’t answer.
Because saying it out loud?
Was a mistake he wasn’t willing to make.
Monica watched him carefully.
Then—
She pushed off the counter.
Took a step closer.
“Kian.”
Her voice was softer now.
Less teasing.
More… intentional.
He shouldn’t notice.
But he did.
“You’ve been avoiding me for years,” she continued. “At some point, I think I deserve to know why.”
“You don’t.”
“I don’t?”
“No.”
A beat.
Then another.
“Wow,” she whispered, shaking her head slightly. “You really got better at shutting people out.”
“I learned.”
“From who?”
He didn’t hesitate.
“From you.”
That landed.
He saw it in the way her expression shifted—just for a second.
Surprise.
Then something else.
Something deeper.
“Me?” she repeated quietly.
“Yes.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Neither was disappearing.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Loaded.
Monica looked away first this time.
But only briefly.
“I didn’t disappear,” she said softly. “I left.”
“Same thing.”
“No,” she corrected, meeting his gaze again. “Not if you knew why.”
Kian stepped closer.
Closing the space.
Not thinking.
Just reacting.
“Then tell me,” he said, voice low.
“Because from where I’m standing, you walked away without a word.”
Monica didn’t move.
Didn’t step back.
Didn’t break.
“Would it have made a difference?” she asked.
“Yes.”
A beat.
Then, quieter—
“It would have.”
That was the first honest thing he’d said all night.
And they both felt it.
Monica’s breath hitched slightly.
Barely noticeable.
But he caught it.
“You didn’t give me a chance,” she said.
“You didn’t give me a reason.”
“I had one.”
“Then say it.”
She hesitated.
For the first time.
And that was when Kian realized—
Whatever she left behind…
Wasn’t simple.
“Not tonight,” she whispered.
Frustration flickered in his chest.
Sharp. Immediate.
“You always do this,” he muttered.
“Do what?”
“Start something… then walk away before it matters.”
Monica stepped closer.
Again.
Now there was barely any space left between them.
“This matters,” she said softly.
Kian’s gaze dropped.
Just for a second.
Then back to her eyes.
“Then stop acting like it doesn’t.”
The tension snapped tight.
Too close.
Too quiet.
Too much.
And then—
Footsteps.
“Kian? Monica?”
Kailey’s voice.
Half-asleep.
Confused.
They pulled apart instantly.
Like nothing happened.
Like everything didn’t just almost happen.
“Kitchen,” Monica called out, steady.
Kailey appeared moments later, squinting at them.
“Why are you both awake?”
“Water,” Kian answered.
“Same,” Monica added.
Kailey yawned. “You two are weird.”
Neither argued.
Because neither trusted themselves to speak.
And as Kailey dragged Monica back down the hallway again—
Kian stayed rooted in place.
Because one thing was clear now.
This wasn’t just tension anymore.
This was unfinished.
- Writer
