Chapter 5 The Almost Kiss

Fletcher Hall

The hallway smelled like floor wax and stale popcorn, a weird mix Mikey had started associating with college weekends. He hadn't slept after sitting with Crizzle. Too many thoughts. Too much static. His brain kept replaying every word, every glance, every almost.

They didn't kiss.

But God, they could've.

Now it was morning, and he needed air.

He grabbed his sketchpad and took the stairs two at a time, hoodie half-zipped, hair still a mess. The rooftop was already warm with the early sun, the clouds stretched thin like pulled cotton. He sat on their usual spot-an uneven slab of concrete against the railing and started sketching the city skyline, trying to ignore the memory of Crizzle's head on his shoulder.

He was in the middle of shading when the door creaked open.

Of course it was her.

Crizzle walked out slowly, like she wasn't sure he'd be there. Her face was bare, freckles standing out against the morning light. No hoodie this time just a long cardigan over a tank top, and pajama pants with tiny stars on them.

She smiled like she didn't know what to say.

He nodded toward the spot beside him.

She sat.

They didn't talk for a while. Just listened to the hum of the city waking up.

Finally, Crizzle whispered, "Last night felt like a dream."

Mikey glanced sideways. "A good one or a weird one?"

"I haven't decided yet."

He smirked. "Want me to disappear dramatically so you can test if it was real?"

She snorted. "Don't tempt me."

They shared a laugh, quiet and easy. But underneath it, the weight of what almost happened pressed between them.

"You were right," she said suddenly.

"About what?"

"That we're pretending."

Mikey set the sketchpad aside. "So... what do we do now?"

Crizzle tucked her knees to her chest. "I don't know. Part of me wants to say screw it, let's just jump."

"And the other part?"

"Is terrified we won't land."

He let that sit.

Then he said, "I'd rather fall with you than never try at all."

She looked at him, something raw and wide in her eyes. "You mean that?"

He nodded, slowly.

Crizzle leaned forward, like the moment was pulling her.

Their faces were inches apart.

His heart beat so hard he could hear it in his ears.

Then his phone buzzed.

Loud. Annoying. Perfectly awful timing.

They both flinched. The spell snapped.

Mikey cursed under his breath, pulling the phone out. A text from his sister, Vivienne.

Vivienne: "Dad's flying in. Surprise visit. Tell Mom. xo."

He stared at it, then showed it to Crizzle.

She winced. "Damn. Buzzkill."

He sighed. "Yeah."

They stood, awkward now. The moment was gone again, floating somewhere above the clouds.

"You'll tell me what he says, right?" she asked.

"Of course."

She touched his arm brief, warm. "Good luck."

Then she left, hair bouncing behind her like nothing had happened.

But everything had.

Later that Day – Ledger Family Apartment (Off-Campus)

Ophelia opened the door with a flour-dusted hand and a wide grin. "Mikey, honey! Your dad just landed. He'll be here in twenty."

Mikey nodded, stepping inside. The apartment smelled like cinnamon and something buttery. Comfort food. His mom's way of softening the blow.

He dropped his bag on the floor and flopped onto the couch. "Does he know I'm still in Fine Arts?"

Ophelia's smile faltered. "We... haven't exactly talked about it."

"Mom."

She wiped her hands on her apron and sat beside him. "Look, your dad's just... set in his ways. But he loves you. He really does."

Mikey stared at the ceiling. "He won't see it that way."

"Then make him see," she said gently. "Show him what you've done. Be proud of it."

He sighed. "I'm not sure it's enough."

"You are enough," she said firmly. "Always have been."

He didn't answer, but the knot in his chest loosened just a little.

Evening – Back on Campus

Crizzle waited on the dorm stairs, sketchpad in her lap. She wasn't drawing. Just flipping pages.

When she saw Mikey, she stood. "Hey."

He looked tired. Eyes shadowed. Shoulders heavy.

"How was the visit?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Better than expected. Worse than I hoped."

Crizzle waited.

"He didn't yell," Mikey said. "Just... looked disappointed. Like I'd let him down."

Her chest ached. "I'm sorry."

"He asked me what kind of job I thought I'd get with 'doodles.'"

Crizzle clenched her fists. "They're not doodles."

He smiled faintly. "Thanks."

She stepped closer. "You're gonna prove him wrong, Mikey."

"I hope so."

They stood close again, quiet settling over them.

Then Mikey said, "I wanted to kiss you this morning."

She blinked. "I know."

"You did?"

"You leaned in."

He chuckled. "You didn't move."

"I didn't want to."

Silence. Charged. Beautiful.

Then Crizzle stepped back. "But maybe we wait. Until we're both sure we won't break this."

Mikey nodded, even though it hurt. "Okay."

She touched his chest, right over his heart. "Just don't stop trying."

He covered her hand with his. "Never."

And they stood there like that two almosts holding onto maybe.

Somewhere far below, a car alarm blared.

Up here, everything else was quiet.

But not still.

Never still.