𝐄𝐋𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 ! 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐒 ✓

between the lines (c. sturniolo)

↳summary: in which you realize that after months of flirting, you and chris are falling in love.

↳authors note: this used to be a cobra fic but there was some allusions to smut in this so i changed it to fit a really flirty friendship.

↳warnings: mentions of making out and sneaking off to makeout, swearing and anxiety

as i meandered through the random undisclosed frat house, i couldn't help but sigh as i failed to find chris and his brothers who were the sober drivers for their group of friends attending the party. which led to me spending majority of my night talking to alex, a guy from my criminology class.

i had spotted chris and was about to leave when alex stopped me, a soft smile on his face as he asked me out, planning the date for later that same week. after that, i had planned on ending the confusing, weird "are we together?" "are we not together?" relationship limbo that chris and i were currently in.

however, chris had other plans upon hearing about my date with alex. but when he saw how excited i was, he backed off. which led to quite a bit of tension building between the two of us as the next few days rolled by.

the professor finally dismissed my class, the lecture she gave nearly putting me to sleep. after talking to madi as we made our way out of the classroom, i took off in the direction of me car. as i climbed in, my phone pinged twice, making me huff out a disgruntled groan as i read through the texts from chris.

chris
when are you outta class?
i gotta talk to u.

y/n
i just got out but i have to run to the store
and then get ready for my date
what do you need?

chris
i just need to see you before you go on that date.

y/n
it's real funny how you wanna see me
when i'm tryna find someone new.

chris
i don't wanna fight again y/n/n

y/n
lol whatever

i was about to ignore any other texts from him when i was swarmed with the overwhelming urge to see him. internally groaning at myself, i sent him one more text.

y/n
i'll let you know when i'm home from the store

as i roamed the aisles of the closest trader joe's, i couldn't help think back to the night chris and i first kissed. to me, there was something so bittersweet about that moment. it was the night i knew things were changing between the two of us. we were no longer best friends. it was no longer late night movie marathons or spending the early hours of the morning/late hours of the night dancing to mac miller and j cole in the kitchen nearly burning the cookies in the oven, the open refrigerator posing as the only light source.

instead, it became moments of sweet nothings whispered against each other's lips during rushed kisses as the two of us cuddled on the couch. it became longing and needy glances across the parties, later meeting up in empty bathrooms, nearly forgetting to let friends know where we went as mouths hummed against one another, faces hidden against each other's throats, giggling as we realized how we made things seem. heavy makeout sessions in an empty mcdonald's parking lot and loud laughter as the two of us were desperate to be alone in the middle of a busy week, walking out on our friends hand in hand. it became unbearable flirting as we hung out with friends on the rare occasion we held bonfires and "friend date nights".

as i placed my items in the trunk of my car, i huffed out a saddened sigh as i understood things were gonna change even more so than they already had. i was scared i was gonna lose him completely. then as i drove home, i realized that maybe, just maybe, i was falling in love with him. but that wasn't the only thing i realized. i realized he was falling in love with me too.

amongst the steady stream of late nights, refusing to leave as the sun came up, wanting to spend as much time as possible talking about everything in the world, i had barely remembered the way chris would always have a mug of coffee ready for me, made exactly the way i liked it, if i spent the night at his place. the way he cleared out a drawer in his dresser to make sure i had extra clothes at his house. the way he bought my favourite midnight snacks. the way he made sure he always had my favourite movies on hand. i had nearly forgotten the way he'd greet me every monday and wednesday night with my favourite drink, my go to mcdonald's order and an extra hoodie of his because he knew i'd get cold sooner or later and would complain about not having a hoodie. the way he always made sure to order extra pickles or ask for pickle spears whenever we went out to eat because he knew i loved them.

parking my car, i grabbed my groceries and quickly made my way into my apartment, placing everything on the table as i let chris know i was finally home. as i continued putting everything away, two quick knocks rattled against my door, prompting me to yell "come in!", i had put away the last of my groceries before turning to face chris, taking in how anxious he seemed.

"is everything okay?" i hummed, quickly making my way over to him as he chewed on the skin around his thumb nail.

"don't go on that date." he pleaded, eyes boring into mine as he spoke.

"why?" i replied, although i knew exactly why he didn't want me going, i just wanted to hear him admit it.

"you know why." he muttered, making me grin as i took his hands in my own, gently rubbing my thumbs over the backs of his hands.

"say it." i teased, dropping his hands as i draped my arms over his shoulders, my hands running through his hair, silently thanking him for growing it out after his last haircut.

"i think i might be in some kind of love with you." he whispered, closing the distance between the two of us, his lips meeting mine, his arms winding tightly around my waist. pulling away, i smiled, my hand resting on his cheek, my thumb gently ghosting along his prominent and define cheekbone.

"good because i think i might be in some kind of love with you too." i murmured, smiling as i gazed up at him.