CHAPTER 15: CHAPTER 15: THIS NEVER SHOULD’VE HAPPENED (BUT IT DID)

Some moments aren’t planned.

They creep in quietly, disguised as normal.

Like brushing past someone in the hallway.

Like offering a glass of water.

Like saying goodnight... and not leaving.

And then, suddenly, you’re standing too close.

Saying too little.

Feeling too much.

That’s how it happened.

And now, I can’t pretend anymore.

11:34 PM — The Knock

I was in my room, pretending to scroll through my phone while mentally reliving every second of dinner.

The hand touch.

The wine.

The way Milo looked at me like he knew everything and wanted to slap me with it.

And then—

Knock knock.

I knew who it was.

I opened the door.

And there she was.

Elena.

Barefoot. Hoodie. Eyes like something had broken loose inside her.

"Hey," she said softly. "Can I come in?"

11:36 PM — What We Didn’t Say

She sat on the edge of my bed like she’d done it a thousand times before.

I stayed standing. Arms crossed. Like distance might save me.

"Is he asleep?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. Out cold."

We stared at each other.

The silence was thick. Heavy. Buzzing with everything we’d buried under wine, lasagna, and half-smiles.

"This is insane," I whispered.

She smiled sadly. "I know."

"But you’re still here."

"I know."

I sat beside her.

Not touching.

But close enough to feel the heat.

11:42 PM — The Moment We Broke

"I can’t keep doing this," I said. "Acting like I don’t—"

"Feel it?" she said, finishing for me.

I nodded.

She reached for my hand.

Fingers laced.

It felt like relief and disaster all at once.

"I should hate you," I said.

She laughed softly. "You think I don’t hate myself?"

Her voice cracked.

And that’s when I looked at her — really looked — and saw the guilt living just beneath her skin. The war inside her. The longing. The fear.

And before I could stop myself—

I kissed her.

11:43 PM — The Kiss

It wasn’t soft.

It wasn’t tentative.

It was desperate. Like two people trying to breathe through each other.

Her hands were in my hair.

Mine were at her waist.

The taste of wine. The sound of her breath catching.

And in that moment, everything fell away.

My dad. The rules. The labels.

All I knew was her.

Her lips.

Her body.

The way she whispered my name like it hurt.

11:47 PM — After

We didn’t speak for a minute.

She sat back, breathing hard, eyes wide.

I touched her face.

"I don’t regret it," I said, voice low.

She did.

I could see it in the way her jaw tensed, in the way her gaze dropped to the floor.

"You should," she whispered. "We both should."

"Do you?"

She looked at me, torn.

And then—softly, truthfully—"Not yet."

11:55 PM — The Exit

She stood slowly.

Like leaving the room meant reentering reality.

Like every step was a goodbye.

At the door, she paused.

Turned back.

"I’m sorry," she said. "For all of this."

Then she was gone.

And I was alone.

Heart pounding.

Mind spinning.

Wondering if I’d just ruined everything... or if I was finally alive for the first time.

📘 End of Chapter 15

💬 YOUR TURN!

Was this kiss inevitable?

Is it still a mistake if both people wanted it?

👇 Let’s talk about this mess. Favorite lines, biggest regrets, or predictions — drop them in the comments.

❤️ Hit that heart if you felt the kiss before it even happened.

🔔 Follow now — Chapter 16 is coming fast, and nothing will be the same after tonight.