A/N: Definitely a long one lol, strap in 🤭

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I wasn't too much of a morning person, especially coming off of a double shift last night and having to get right back up. Never had been. Never would be.

So when my alarm started blaring at an ungodly hour, vibrating aggressively against the nightstand, I groaned and blindly smacked at my phone until the noise finally cut off. For a second, I debated just rolling over and going back to sleep.

Storm was still down the hall in her room. The apartment was quiet, peaceful. The sun wasn't even fully up yet. Maybe I could get away with five more minutes.

But then my phone vibrated again.

I squinted at the screen, blinking through the early morning haze, expecting maybe a text from Caleb or something dumb from Lili. Instead, I saw Storm's name and immediately knew what she was doing.

Two Baddies and Y/N ✨

Storm 🤎⛈️:
hey Madelyn, if you had to pick between eating only ice cream or only pizza for the rest of your life, which one?

I frowned, my brain still catching up.

Storm. Texting Madelyn. I loved that my little sister created this group chat between us but, why is she texting so early.

At 6:32 AM.

Jesus.

I hovered over the thread, debating whether to click on it. I wasn't sure why I hesitated. It wasn't a big deal. Just Storm being Storm. But still, something in my stomach twisted as my thumb moved before I could stop myself.

Madz ♡:
That's cruel... But obviously pizza, I feel like eating only ice cream would make my stomach upset lol

I huffed out a quiet laugh.

Storm 🤎⛈️:
wrong. Blocked.

Madz ♡:
wow. That's harsh. I was gonna say hi but now I'm reconsidering.

Storm 🤎⛈️:
i accept your reconsideration, I guess

I shook my head, rubbing a hand over my face. God, these two.

Without thinking, I tapped out a response.

Y/n/n 🤭:
LMAO. Pizza is the correct answer, actually. I raised her wrong.

Y/n/n 🤭:
Also, Storm, you better be getting ready for school since you're up

Storm 🤎⛈️:
Yeah yeah yeah

The reply came almost instantly.

Madz ♡:
YOU FINALLY ADMIT IT. Growth 🥹

I rolled my eyes, but my lips twitched.

Y/n/n 🤭:
Wow. See if I ever bring you free food again.

Madz ♡ :
you literally always bring me food

Y/n/n 🤭:
...I don't like what you're implying.

Madz ♡ :

I hesitated for half a second before rolling my eyes again.

Y/n/n 🤭:
Shut up.

Madz ♡ :
There it is. The warmth. The affection 😍

Y/n/n 🤭:
If I block you, is it still considered growth?

Madz ♡:
I'd say it's regression, actually.

I shook my head, but I was smiling.

It was easy again. It felt good talking to her like this again. It'd been a couple of weeks since we agreed to squash everything and be just friends and boy, was I happy about it.

The conversation was nothing, just our usual back-and-forth, but it didn't feel forced. It felt like before. The weight that had been sitting in my chest for weeks was just a little bit lighter.

My phone buzzed again.

Madz ♡:
Are you up for work? Or still being useless in bed?

Y/n/n 🤭:
Wow. Unprovoked attack.

Madz ♡ :
Am I wrong? Plus, you laid into Storm soooo

I glanced at the time and cursed under my breath.

Y/n/n 🤭:
No, you're not wrong.

Madz ♡:
Go be a hero, firefighter.Get your ass out of the bed, someone may need saving

I huffed a laugh, rolling out of bed.

Madz ♡:
Also, eat something.

Y/n/n 🤭:
You first.

Madz ♡:
...Touché.

Storm 🤎⛈️:
Get a room 🙄

I shook my head, still smiling as I set my phone down and got ready for the day. This was good. I knew we could do this. I knew we could actually be friends.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

But even as I showered, as I pulled on my uniform, as I grabbed a coffee before heading to the station—one thought lingered in the back of my mind. Madelyn was checking in on me.

And even after everything, even after the distance, after our conversation, after deciding to be just friends... I liked that she still did.

.  .  .

The station smelled like burnt coffee and sweat, which meant it was just another normal day.

I had just finished a workout in the small gym we had in the back—nothing crazy, just enough to clear my head.

Now, I was leaning against the truck, listening to one of my crewmates, Ramirez, animatedly recounting a story about the time he tried to impress his high school crush by attempting to do a backflip off a swing. Spoiler: it did not go well.

"So let me get this straight," Caleb drawled, arms crossed, clearly fighting back a grin. "You thought she was gonna fall for you after you face-planted straight into the dirt?"

Ramirez groaned, shaking his head. "Listen, in my mind, it was gonna be smooth, okay? Land it, stand up, look cool. It was all mapped out. I just... forgot to consider physics."

The whole group burst into laughter, and I shook my head, reaching for my water bottle. "Damn, man. That's tough."

Ramirez sighed. "And the worst part? She laughed too. Not in the good way."

Caleb slapped a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head in mock sympathy. "Tragic."

"Brutal," I added.

Before Ramirez could respond, I heard a familiar voice echo through the garage.

"Well, this is cute."

I turned toward the sound, and there she was.

Madelyn.

Standing near the entrance with Storm next to her, arms crossed, looking way too good for someone who just casually showed up at a fire station.

She was in casual clothes—jeans, sneakers, and an oversized hoodie that I was almost certain wasn't hers. Probably Madison's. But damn if she didn't make it look good.

Storm grinned the second she saw me. "Y/n!"

I barely had time to brace myself before she launched into my arms. I caught her easily, lifting her up just enough to spin her once before setting her back down. "What are you doing here, troublemaker?"

Storm pulled back and jerked a thumb toward Madelyn. "I begged her to bring me."

Madelyn rolled her eyes but smirked. "She's lying. I kidnapped her. Threw her in the car against her will."

Storm snorted. "Uh-huh. That's why you literally—"

I saw it happen before she even got the words out, but I was too late.

"She literally took a picture of you when you weren't looking," Storm announced smugly. Caleb choked on his own spit. Ramirez had to physically turn away to hide his laughter.

Madelyn, completely deadpan, tilted her head at Storm. "I don't recall."

Storm gave her a look. "Your camera roll does."

Madelyn sighed dramatically, but there was a hint of a blush creeping up her neck.

I raised an eyebrow, smirking as I turned back to her. "So, I looked that good, huh?"

Madelyn exhaled through her nose, clearly trying not to give me the satisfaction. Then, with a straight face, she said, "Please. Like I was gonna turn down a chance to see you in uniform."

I was mid-sip of water.

I inhaled too fast.

And that was the moment I officially choked.

Caleb slapped my back as I coughed. "Damn, man. You good?"

Ramirez wheezed. "Casualty of flirting. RIP."

Madelyn, absolutely unbothered, handed me a coffee like nothing happened. "Here. Figured you needed it."

I took it, clearing my throat as I regained my composure. "You didn't have to come."

Madelyn smirked, sipping her own drink. "I wanted to."

For a second, it felt like we were the only two people there.

The way she was looking at me—calm, teasing, but still familiar—it settled something in me that I hadn't even realized was unsteady.

I took a slow sip of my coffee, glancing at her over the rim. "You look cute, by the way."

Madelyn was in the middle of drinking her own coffee when I said it, and for the first time, I saw her hesitate just slightly.

She recovered quickly, rolling her eyes. "You're annoying."

"Didn't deny it, though."

She huffed but looked away, fighting back a smile.

Before I could push further, Caleb came up beside us, raising an eyebrow. "Y'all just gonna stand there making heart eyes, or you gonna say hi like normal people?"

Madelyn turned to him, smirking. "Did you miss me that much, Monroe?"

Caleb snorted. "Not as much as Y/n did."

I smacked him in the arm, making him laugh.

Then—before I could think twice—I pulled Madelyn into a hug.

It wasn't planned. It just happened.

Her body tensed for half a second, like she hadn't been expecting it, but then she melted into me, her arms slipping around my waist, her cheek resting lightly against my shoulder.

The hug lingered.

Too long to be friendly, but neither of us moved to break it.

I took a slow breath, the scent of her shampoo filling my senses. My fingers pressed slightly into the fabric of her hoodie. Madelyn's hands rested lightly against my back, her body soft and warm against mine.

It was stupid, but for a second, I didn't want to let go.

Then Caleb—being Caleb—ruined it.

He smirked, crossing his arms. "Should I give you two a moment, or...?"

Madelyn pulled away first, but I didn't miss the way her hands lingered at my sides for a second before fully stepping back.

She rolled her eyes at Caleb. "Shut up."

Caleb just grinned before suddenly turning and grabbing Storm, hoisting her up and throwing her over his shoulder.

Storm shrieked, kicking her legs. "Caleb!"

He just laughed. "What? You don't wanna see the inside of a fire truck?"

Storm stilled immediately. "Wait. Actually?"

I shook my head, grinning. "You're such an instigator, man."

Caleb just smirked, turning toward the garage. "C'mon, kid. Let's go before Y/n yells at me."

Storm looked at me like she was waiting for me to say no. I just sighed. "Fine. Just don't let him lock you inside or something."

Storm beamed. "No promises!"

Madelyn and I watched as Caleb carried her off, both of us shaking our heads.

She turned back to me, crossing her arms. "I think your best friend is a bad influence."

I smirked. "Yeah, but she loves it."

Madelyn let out a soft laugh.

It was easy.

This was easy.

We were falling back into place.

Tension still lingered in the air, quiet but undeniable. But neither of us crossed the line.

We were actually doing it.

We were being friends.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

.  .  .

The apartment felt warm tonight. Not because of the temperature, but because it actually felt... full.

For the first time in a long time, things felt normal again.

Madelyn was curled up on one side of the couch, Storm was stretched out on the other end, and I was in the middle, flipping absently through the streaming apps while they bickered over what movie to watch.

Storm, sprawled dramatically with a blanket over her, sighed. "We should watch Sky High."

Madelyn groaned immediately, tossing a piece of popcorn at her. "You have the worst taste in movies."

Storm gasped, clutching her chest. "Excuse me?"

Madelyn gestured toward the TV. "The last time you picked, we had to sit through Sharkboy and Lavagirl."

Storm crossed her arms. "And?"

"And I lost brain cells, Storm."

I smirked, leaning back. "Nah, she's got a point. Your movie taste is questionable at best."

Storm let out an exaggerated scoff, looking between the both of us. "Oh my god. It's disgusting how in sync you two are."

Madelyn and I exchanged a glance. Yeah. We still were.

Madelyn shook her head, reaching for the popcorn bowl. "Okay, but seriously. Just pick something that doesn't make me want to walk into traffic."

Storm huffed, dramatically scrolling. "Fine. But if you insult another cinematic masterpiece, I'm never forgiving you."

I stretched my arms across the back of the couch, smirking. "Cinematic masterpiece? Storm, you made us sit through Hotel for Dogs last month."

Storm, dead serious, turned toward me. "And?"

I blinked.

Madelyn snorted, shaking her head. "God, I missed this."

And just like that, the air shifted.

Because yeah, me too.

For a second, the three of us just sat there, the weight of the past few months pressing down on us. We had all gone through a lot. Storm had been caught in the middle of something she didn't fully understand, Madelyn had been hurt, and me—

Well, I had been the cause of it.

But tonight? Tonight, we weren't overthinking it.

Tonight, we were just... here.

Storm finally settled on something, a random action movie neither of us protested, and she curled up under her blanket while I settled into the couch. Madelyn did the same, shifting slightly to get comfortable.

Minutes passed, the noise of the movie filling the space.

The movie had been playing for over an hour, but Storm had slowed down long before that.

At first, she'd been energetic, making snarky little comments about the ridiculous plot, complaining when Madelyn kept groaning about her terrible movie choices.

But now, she was curled up against my side, her cheek resting against my arm, her breaths deep and even.

I glanced down at her, the glow from the TV casting soft shadows over her face. Her eyes fluttered slightly, but she was already giving in to sleep, her small fingers curled into the hem of my shirt.

"She's out," I murmured, barely moving as I reached for the remote.

Madelyn turned her head, glancing over. "Already?"

I huffed a quiet laugh, carefully shifting Storm's weight. "She likes to act like she can hang, but the second you throw on a movie, it's game over."

Madelyn smirked. "Yeah, kinda like her sister."

I shot her a look, but she just raised an eyebrow, challenging.

I shook my head, biting back a smile as I carefully unwrapped Storm's grip on my shirt, shifting her into my arms. She barely stirred, just nuzzled her face into my shoulder with a soft sigh as I stood up.

"Be right back," I muttered, adjusting my hold on her.

Madelyn nodded, sinking further into the couch as I walked down the hall to Storm's room.

By the time I came back, rolling my shoulders and running a hand through my hair, Madelyn had grabbed the remote and flipped through the options, a new show paused on the screen.

I dropped onto the couch beside her, stretching my legs out as she pressed play. "Didn't think you'd wait for me."

She smirked. "Figured I'd be nice."

I snorted, nudging her knee with mine. "Rare."

She rolled her eyes, but the teasing glint was there as she shifted, getting comfortable.

The next few minutes passed easily—laughing at whatever ridiculous thing was happening on screen, throwing in side comments here and there. It felt... easy. Normal, even.

Then, somewhere between one joke and the next, I felt it. The slow, unintentional shift.

I barely noticed when Madelyn leaned into me. It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't intentional. It just happened.

Her head, soft and warm, found its place against my shoulder. Her body relaxed against mine, like it was the most natural thing in the world. And for a second, it was.

She fit there, effortlessly. The way she always had. It wasn't until a few minutes later that I felt the slightest shift.

Madelyn tensed. Like she just realized what she was doing. Like it had only now occurred to her that this was us—sitting here, like nothing had changed, like everything had changed. She shifted slightly, moving like she was about to sit up.

I felt it before I even turned my head. "Hey," I said softly.

She stilled. I hesitated, my voice quieter now. "You can stay how you were."

Madelyn turned her head just enough to look at me, eyes searching mine for something.

"Are you sure?" she whispered. I nodded. Then, without thinking too hard about it, I lifted my arm, creating space for her to come back. For a second, she hesitated.

Then, slowly, she settled back against me. I felt her exhale, the tension in her body easing slightly. I let my arm rest lightly along the back of the couch, close enough to her without overstepping, without pushing.

We didn't say anything else. We didn't need to. It was the most natural thing in the world.

Storm, thankfully, was  in her bed now, but if she had seen the way Madelyn's fingers subtly curled into the sleeve of my hoodie, or the way I found myself subconsciously leaning into her warmth, she would've definitely had something to say.

At first, it was just the light press of her shoulder against mine. Then, as the minutes passed and the room got quieter, she shifted slightly, adjusting, like she was testing something out. My breath slowed when I felt it—her fingers, resting lightly against my forearm.

It wasn't intentional. Or maybe it was. But neither of us acknowledged it.

I could feel the delicate brush of her skin against mine, warm, featherlight. Then—without thinking, without overanalyzing—I let my own fingers twitch, just slightly, until the tips of them ghosted over hers.

Madelyn didn't pull away. Instead, she let her fingers flex, barely shifting, as if inviting me to do it again. So I did.

A slow, unspoken dance. The barest brush of fingertips, the quiet weight of something neither of us wanted to name. It was small, meaningless in theory, but the air between us felt heavier because of it.

I let my hand move on instinct, my fingers gently grazing the back of hers, then turning slightly, just enough for our hands to fully align. For a second, neither of us moved.

Then, slowly—hesitantly—her fingers curled around mine. Soft. Tentative.

My heart skipped a beat. We weren't even looking at each other, both of us stubbornly keeping our eyes on the screen, but the shift was undeniable. My thumb brushed absently over the side of her hand, testing, waiting, half-expecting her to pull away.

But she didn't. Instead, she let her fingers tighten slightly, like she was holding onto me.

Like she didn't want to let go.

I swallowed, my pulse thrumming in my ears, my arm subtly sliding down from where it had been draped along the couch.

The motion was slow, absentminded, but the second my hand found the curve of her waist, I felt the shift in her breathing.

I wasn't sure which one of us had moved first. All I knew was that my fingers