In a quiet suburban neighborhood, a boy named Ben sat on the edge of his bed, the soft light from his desk lamp casting a warm glow across the room. His eyes darted between the pages of a dog-eared comic book and the glowing screen of his laptop. The digital clock on the nightstand read 10:47 PM, the house's rhythmic silence occasionally broken by the distant sound of a passing car."You still up?" a voice echoed through the open doorway, and Ben looked up to see Sage, his best friend since kindergarten, leaning against the doorframe. Sage's hair was a wild mess, sticking out in all directions as if he'd just rolled out of bed, and his sleepy eyes searched the room with curiosity."Couldn't sleep," Ben mumbled, tucking the comic book under his pillow. "Just reading some old stuff."Sage yawned, his shirt riding up to expose a sliver of his toned stomach. He padded into the room and flopped onto the bed beside Ben, his legs hanging off the side. "Wanna watch a movie or something?" he suggested, the sleepiness in his voice belying the excitement of a surprise visit.Ben considered the offer, glancing at the laptop. "I've got some new ones downloaded," he said, nudging the laptop closer to the center of the bed. They both leaned in, their shoulders brushing together, as Ben navigated to his favorite streaming site. The light from the screen reflected in their eyes as they scrolled through the list of movies, searching for something to watch.The air grew thick with a tension that was palpable, even in the dimly lit room. They'd known each other for so long that it was almost as if they could read each other's thoughts. Their laughter over the movie trailers grew forced, and their smiles began to waver. Sage's hand found its way to Ben's leg, his thumb idly tracing small circles. Ben didn't move, his eyes never leaving the screen, but his breathing grew shallower.
