On the Edge of Love (CarlxAlan)

Chapter 33: Alan

The last day of break always had that weird ache to it — part dread, part regret that it was already over. But somehow, this one didn't feel as heavy. Not with Carl beside me.

We'd spent nearly every day of the break together, and now we were killing time downtown again, wandering from shop to shop in that lazy, unhurried way that made everything feel softer. There was a chill in the air, enough to make our fingers sting when we pulled them from our jacket pockets.

Carl kept brushing against me — casually at first, and then more intentionally. I bumped him back, and he grinned, that same quiet grin that always looked like he was trying not to let it take over his whole face. We ended up sharing a cinnamon pretzel from the food cart near the town square, sitting side by side on the edge of the fountain even though the concrete was cold.

"Tomorrow's gonna suck," I muttered.

Carl nudged me with his shoulder. "Yeah, but at least I get to stare at you during math again."

"You already do that."

"I'm subtle about it."

"No, you're not."

He grinned again and leaned in without warning — fast and sure and careless in the best way. His lips brushed mine, soft and warm despite the wind. Just a small kiss. One that made my heart jump and my hands freeze where they were resting on the bench.

We pulled away, laughing a little.

And neither of us saw the kid across the street. The one who held his phone a little too steadily, then dropped it back into his pocket and walked away like he hadn't just captured the exact thing we'd kept so carefully between us.

⸻

Later that night, I was home. Lying in bed, scrolling mindlessly while the ceiling fan clicked overhead. A ping lit up my phone.

Elie: uh... have you seen this yet?

She'd sent a Snapchat screenshot.

It was us.

Carl and me.

Kissing on the edge of the fountain. From across the street, zoomed in and a little grainy, but obvious. Clear enough to recognize us. The caption was vague — just an emoji and "👀 downtown today." But it didn't matter.

My chest tightened. I sat up fast, my heart thudding.

A second message came in.

Elie: someone posted the video earlier. it's all over school snap stories.

I froze.

A second later, my phone lit up again. This time it was Carl calling.

I answered on the first ring.

"Did you see it?" he asked. His voice sounded like mine felt — sharp around the edges.

"Yeah," I said, sinking back against my pillows. "I didn't even know anyone was there."

"Me neither."

We were quiet for a second. I could hear him breathing. I imagined him pacing his room, running a hand through his hair the way he always did when he was overwhelmed.

"Do you think this is gonna be bad?" I asked. My throat felt tight. "Like... school. People."

Carl didn't answer right away. Then: "I don't know."

I swallowed. "We weren't doing anything wrong."

"No," he said. "We weren't. But that doesn't always matter, does it?"

It hurt to hear him say it out loud. But I knew he was right.

"They're gonna know now," I whispered.

"Yeah." He paused. "But maybe... maybe that doesn't have to be the worst thing."

I blinked at the ceiling, suddenly so full of everything — fear, hope, panic — that I didn't know which one would spill over first.

"You think we'll be okay?" I asked.

"I think we have to be," Carl said. "We've come this far."

I closed my eyes, letting the silence between us say everything else.

Outside my window, the last of the fall leaves danced in the wind. Tomorrow would come, whether we were ready or not.

And everyone would know.