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If i hypothetically said, that I wanted to rewatch eatm1, but couldn't find it on the Disney thingy on my TV or Netflix, hypothetically-what would be your response?

Also, thanks for the votes.﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

After they had eaten their dinner, they moved to sit on the couch, side by side-right next to each other. Maybe they got too comfortable.

Ali got up to fetch a blanket from upstairs, brushing past her hand by accident as he stood.

The contact was barely anything. A second. Less than that.

But for some reason, it flustered her.

It's just an accident. Get over it.It's not like you even like him.

All this fake dating-it's just to make that rat stay away.

She shifted slightly, arms crossed now, but her mind wouldn't quiet down.

Do I like him? No, I can't. He's just a good friend. That's all.He's being nice because he's... nice. That's who he is.

Pause.

He's nice because he's nice? What kind of thought is that?

She was so deep in thought, she somehow ended up thinking about the way he acted-his calmness during missions, the way he listened, how his hair always somehow looked that soft even after the rain.

If I'm being honest, he's kinda cute...

Wait-what?

No, no. I can't think of him like that. He's just a friend. Just a fellow agent. Actually... agent partner, to be exact...?

Her mind was starting to loop. Nothing made sense anymore. Everything tangled in a single thread of 'Do I like him?'

And just as quickly as the thought formed, a blanket flew to her face.

"Ow-what was that for?" she asked, yanking it off with a playful scowl.

"Looks like someone's reflexes aren't working today," he responded, a teasing look written all over his face. "But seriously, what is it that you keep thinking of?"

That caught her off guard. Very off guard.

Her breath hitched for a moment. She paused-too long, probably-before forcing a shrug.

"Nothing. Just... thinking random thoughts."

It was a weak excuse, and she knew it. Ali, surprisingly, didn't let it slide this time.

"Hmm... should I buy that? Or should I doubt you?" he asked, leaning slightly closer with a raised brow.

She turned away, pulling the blanket up to hide part of her face. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

He chuckled softly, before sitting down beside her.

But his gaze lingered for just a moment longer, thoughtful. She could feel it even without looking.

And she couldn't quite decide if she wanted him to keep asking... or drop it entirely.

Since when did he start voicing doubt in my lies? I could never tell him what I was really thinking. He wouldn't look at me the same.

"Alright, alright. I'll respect your privacy- but you can tell me anything. I won't judge,"

There he goes again. He cares for me so much... I can't believe what it's doing to me.

"Oh yeah, speaking of which-how's it going with that... uh, Evan guy?" Ali asked.

"Depends on what you mean by going," she replied, slightly irked at the mention of him.

"How's evading him going?" Ali clarified.

"Terrible. I'd rather stick with you than have him trailing me..."

"Wow. Another compliment. I should write that down-you're being unusually generous today."

"Shut up..." she mumbled.

...

They binge-watched a TV series that Mia had told Alicia about.

It was about a high school girl who liked a boy, but he didn't seem to feel the same way-until he eventually realised she had always been there for him from the beginning, and he began to return her feelings.

However, they had only made it to the 5th episode before tiredness overpowered their will to watch.

Ali stifled a yawn. "You can sleep in my room. I'll take the couch."

"That's if I even have the energy to get up," Alicia mumbled. Her wristwatch read 11 p.m. Since when did she start getting tired this fast?

Ali didn't argue. He simply leaned back into the couch with a sigh, already settling in.

Beside him, Alicia let her head rest against the backrest, eyes slipping shut without much thought.

She hadn't meant to fall asleep there, sitting upright with the blanket still around her-but warmth and silence worked quickly. And Ali's steady breathing beside her didn't help.

Within minutes, they were both asleep. Peacefully. Side by side.

...

Alicia P.O.V.:

It was 3 in the morning when a loud crash of thunder shook me awake.

I sat up instinctively, heart pounding. I had always been afraid of it-but admitting that out loud would feel like exposing a crack in my armour. Weakness wasn't something I liked to show. Not to anyone.

Another rumble followed, louder this time. I hugged the blanket closer.

I glanced to my side. Ali was still asleep, his breathing soft and even. For a moment, I debated whether to just ride it out quietly.

But then came the lightning. Bright and sudden, it lit up the room for a split second, and the thunder that followed was sharp, angry.

I hated this.

My fingers tightened around the blanket.

Should I wake him?

No... That'd be childish. Stupid. I'm not a kid.

But my body didn't seem to agree. I found myself shifting slightly closer to him, just enough to feel the faint warmth where our shoulders had brushed earlier.

Just until the thunder passes... that's all.

That's what I told myself, anyway.

...

Normal P.O.V.:

6:50 A.M.

Ali stirred first, blinking blearily at the faint morning light seeping through the curtains. It took him a moment to register the weight against his side-and the warmth wrapped around his hand.

He glanced down.

Alicia was still asleep beside him, her hand clutching his like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. His eyes widened a little, but he didn't move.

Was this... normal?

Before he could process it, she stirred as well. Her lashes fluttered, and then her eyes blinked open-slow, then wide when she noticed their hands.

A soft, almost imperceptible pink bloomed across her cheeks. She didn't let go right away.

He swallowed. "Uh... morning."

"...Morning," she mumbled, quickly pulling her hand back and sitting up, pretending to fix her hair to mask her expression.

Ali leaned back, rubbing the back of his neck. "Huh. I don't think I've ever been up this early."

And definitely not in this kind of situation.

She didn't reply-at least not with words. But her ears? Slightly red again.

He pretended not to notice.

Alicia P.O.V.: (I'm just a bit great with the povs aren't I?)

By the time I finished getting ready, the house was still quiet-except for the soft thuds of Ali moving around in his room. His schoolbag was still open. The laundry basket sat by the machine, full from yesterday.

I passed by it once, then again.

Without thinking, I knelt down and began sorting the clothes. My hands moved automatically-checking pockets, turning shirts right-side out, separating colors from whites. It wasn't something I planned. Just something that made sense to do.

I measured out the detergent and started the cycle. The machine hummed to life just as Ali walked out of his room, still towel-drying his hair and adjusting his tie at the same time.

He stopped in his tracks.

"You didn't have to do that."

I shrugged, not really looking at him. "It's fine."

He opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, but then just smiled-quietly.

Maybe it was the kind of help that didn't need words.

...

The sky was clear now, like last night's thunderstorm had never happened. The pavement was still a little damp, and the breeze carried that fresh, just-rained scent.

We walked in silence. Not the uncomfortable kind-just quiet. No one really felt the need to say anything.

Ali walked beside me, hands in his pockets, his bag slung over one shoulder. I noticed his hair was still a little messy. He probably rushed through his routine again. Typical.

My eyes stayed on the road ahead, but somehow I could still feel his presence right beside me. Our footsteps synced naturally, and we didn't have to try to keep pace.

It wasn't a long walk, but it was long enough for the morning air to wake me up completely-and for this strange warmth to settle in my chest.

I didn't know when it started feeling like this.

And maybe I didn't want to know.

We were almost at the intersection when I noticed it again-his hair, still messy as if he had just gotten out of bed. It was annoying me more than it should have.

I stopped walking.

Ali took a few more steps before pausing, confused. "What?"

"Crouch down," I said flatly.

He blinked. "Huh?"

I crossed my arms. "Just do it."

He muttered something under his breath but bent slightly, lowering himself until we were level. I reached up, gently smoothing the unruly strands with my fingers, brushing them into place. They were softer than I expected. Still a bit damp.

He stayed still, surprisingly cooperative. Maybe he was too tired to question it.

"There," I mumbled, pulling my hand back. "You looked like a mess."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "That bad?"

I started walking again without answering, hoping he didn't notice the slight warmth rising to my ears.

He's grown so tall lately-I actually have to make him crouch just to reach his hair. Not long ago, we used to stand eye to eye, and now I feel like I need a step stool just to glare at him properly. It's almost ridiculous...Feels like I'm slowly losing my upper hand. Maybe I already have. And the worst part? He knows it. He just pretends not to.

...

We reached the school gates a few minutes before the bell. The walk had been unusually quiet-not awkward, just... careful. Like we'd both silently agreed to pack away last night and bury it under our usual banter.

I stole a glance at him as we stepped into the hallway. His expression was unreadable, posture relaxed as ever. Not a trace of hesitation, like nothing had changed.

And maybe it hadn't.

Or maybe we were just both very, very good at pretending.

I adjusted the strap of my bag and pushed open the classroom door without a word, slipping into my seat like routine. Like normal.

But my hand still remembered the shape of his.

And for a second, I wondered if he was pretending just as hard as I was.

...Normal p.o.v.:

The cafeteria buzzed with its usual lunchtime chatter-clattering trays, bursts of laughter, the distant hum of a fan that never seemed to stop. Alicia sat across from Mia, picking at her food more than actually eating it. Mia noticed, of course. She always did.

Midway through a sip of her drink, Alicia suddenly asked, "How do you know if you like someone...?"

Mia didn't flinch. She simply placed her cup down with precision, her expression calm and unreadable-at least at first glance. But there was a glint in her eye, subtle but unmistakable, like a switch had been flipped.

"Define your definition of 'like,' and I'll help," she replied, voice even, almost amused.

Alicia blinked. She should've known Mia wouldn't let that question go unexplored.

"A... crush?" she said, the word coming out quieter than intended. It tasted unfamiliar on her tongue-almost foreign. Her eyes dropped to her lunch tray, avoiding Mia's gaze.

Mia tilted her head slightly, finally showing the faintest smile. "Now we're getting somewhere."

Mia took a thoughtful bite of her food. "So... what makes you think it's a crush?"

Alicia shifted in her seat. "I just... I keep thinking about him. Even when I don't mean to."

Mia didn't even blink. "Do you get all weird around him? Like... your heart goes fast, or you start noticing dumb things like how nice his hair looks when it's messy?"

Alicia looked scandalised. "That's oddly specific."

"I have experience," Mia said smugly. "But go on."

Alicia lowered her voice. "It's not that bad. Just... sometimes I overthink what I say around him. And I catch myself looking when he's not paying attention."

Mia leaned back with a smug little smile. "Girl, you're gone."

Alicia groaned. "I knew asking you was a mistake."

Mia raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly. "Didn't you say you already had a boyfriend?"

Alicia blinked. "That's pretend. Just to get rid of that stupid guy."

Mia hummed. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand like a detective about to crack a case. "So... you're pretending to date someone-and now you're realising you might actually like them?"

Alicia froze. That hit a little too close to the truth.

Alicia immediately looked away, ears tingling. "Don't get all over yourself or anything. It's just... a maybe."

Mia's eyes lit up, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Uh-huh. A maybe."

"Seriously. Stop that look. You're doing that look."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Mia said, smiling wider now.

Alicia groaned into her hands. "I should've asked someone else..."

The final bell rang, and students spilled into the hallways, chattering, stretching, and gathering their bags. The usual end-of-day energy buzzed through the air.

Alicia was halfway through zipping her bag when she caught sight of Evan turning the corner, heading straight toward her with that irritating smile on his face.

Her stomach dropped.

Nope. Not today.

Without missing a beat, she spun around on her heel, eyes scanning the crowd until she found a familiar figure a few steps ahead.

She marched over, slipped beside Ali, and nudged him lightly with her elbow.

"You're going to help me. You agreed to it," she said under her breath, not even waiting for a reply before subtly shifting her pose.

Ali blinked, slightly startled. "Uh... okay? What's-?"

"Evan."

"Oh... Got it."

He played along instantly, his expression relaxing into one of practiced ease as he adjusted his pace to match hers, shielding her with casual conversation.

Behind them, Evan slowed to a stop, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Still the best fake boyfriend ever," Alicia muttered, barely loud enough for Ali to hear.

He grinned. "Well, I do try."

They had just left the school gates, the afternoon sun casting long shadows ahead of them as they made their way down the familiar path home. The buzz of the day had faded into a quiet calm, only the occasional passing car or distant chatter breaking the silence.

Alicia glanced at Ali from the corner of her eye, then quickly looked ahead again.

"...Can I come to your house again?" she asked, feigning nonchalance but failing to hide the slight upward curl at the corner of her lips. "You know... to watch the TV series. For research purposes. Obviously."

Ali raised a brow, amused. "Research purposes, huh?"

"Yeah. Very serious business," she nodded, trying not to grin.

"Well, if it's for very serious business, who am I to refuse?" he replied, pretending to be solemn before letting the smirk slip onto his face.

Alicia rolled her eyes, but she didn't deny the smile tugging at her lips as they continued walking side by side, the weight of the school day already fading behind them.

...

After changing out of their uniforms and raiding the kitchen for snacks, they settled into their usual places on the couch-Alicia curling her legs under her, Ali leaning back with the remote.

"Episode six?" he asked.

"Obviously," she replied, already tugging the blanket over her lap.

The opening credits played, and soon the familiar world of the drama enveloped them. The high school girl on screen still hadn't confessed. The boy was still clueless. But the way he looked at her-soft, lingering-was starting to change.

Alicia swallowed. Maybe it was the lighting, or maybe she was imagining it, but Ali's profile beside her looked a little too close to the male lead's.

...No. Stop.

But she couldn't help watching the boy on screen slowly realize how much he needed the girl. Her heart ached quietly, knowing she was hoping for something that might never happen.

Ali nudged her with the remote. "You zoned out again."

"Huh? No I didn't."

"You were staring." He pointed at the screen. "At him."

"I wasn't," she muttered, pulling the blanket higher. "Mind your business."

"Pfft. Fine, fine."

They kept watching, but her thoughts kept drifting. Drama? Unrequited love? Too on the nose.

Only this wasn't fiction.

And in her story, the boy wasn't falling.

Not yet.

Or maybe even never...

............................................................................................

How do other writers have the courage to make their characters do "embarrassing" things? Or am I just highly vulnerable to second-hand embarrassment? I don't know. I want to try to do so too, but I literally can't torment my characterswss.

p.s. do you all think Alicia is going through unrequited feelings ??