The drive back from the park was quiet, the kind of silence that wasn't awkward but still carried a weight neither of them acknowledged.
Zack leaned his head against the window, watching the city lights blur as Kieran navigated the winding roads.
By the time they pulled into Kieran's driveway, Zack's mind was a whirlwind of questions he wasn't ready to ask.
"Home sweet home," Kieran said lightly as he turned off the engine.
Zack nodded, his throat dry as he stepped out of the car.
Inside, the house was dark and quiet, the kind of stillness that made Zack acutely aware of how alone they were.
He set his jacket on the back of a chair and turned to find Kieran watching him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"What?" Zack asked, suddenly self-conscious.
"Nothing," Kieran said, shaking his head. "You're just different here. More relaxed."
Zack blinked, unsure how to respond. "Is that… a good thing?"
"It's a great thing," Kieran said, his voice soft.
The words lingered in the air between them, and Zack felt his pulse quicken.
He looked away, suddenly overwhelmed by the intensity of Kieran's gaze.
What is he doing? Why is he looking at me like that?
Zack moved toward the kitchen, desperate for a distraction. "I'm making tea. Do you want some?"
"Sure," Kieran said, following him.
The familiarity of the kitchen offered Zack a small sense of normalcy, but Kieran's presence made it impossible to fully relax.
He could feel Kieran's eyes on him as he filled the kettle and set it on the stove.
"You don't have to keep watching me, you know," Zack said, glancing over his shoulder.
Kieran smirked, leaning against the counter. "Can't help it. You're fun to watch."
Zack rolled his eyes, though his cheeks flushed. "You're insufferable."
"And yet, you're still here," Kieran teased, his smile widening.
The kettle whistled, breaking the moment. Zack poured the tea into two mugs, handing one to Kieran before taking a seat at the kitchen table.
Kieran sat across from him, cradling the mug in his hands. The warmth in his expression had softened into something more contemplative, and Zack found himself wondering what was going on behind those piercing gray eyes.
"You're quiet tonight," Zack said after a moment.
Kieran shrugged, his gaze dropping to the tea. "Just thinking."
"About?"
Kieran hesitated, then met Zack's eyes. "About how easy this has been."
Zack frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
"This whole… thing," Kieran said, gesturing vaguely between them. "I thought it would be harder. That pretending to be in a relationship would feel fake. But with you… it doesn't."
What is he saying? That it feels real?
It's not real. It can't be.
But then why does it feel like my heart just skipped a beat?
Zack's chest tightened, his mind racing. He wanted to say something—anything—but the words caught in his throat.
Kieran leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Don't overthink it," he said lightly. "I'm just saying you're easy to be around."
Zack let out a nervous laugh, his tension easing slightly. "Well, that's a first. Most people would say I'm awkward."
Kieran's smile returned, warm and genuine. "Awkward can be charming."
Zack rolled his eyes, though he couldn't stop the small smile that crept onto his face.
Later that night, Zack was sitting on the couch, scrolling mindlessly through his phone when Kieran walked in, a blanket draped over his arm.
"Movie?" Kieran asked, holding up the blanket.
Zack hesitated, then nodded. "Sure."
Kieran sat beside him, tossing the blanket over both of them as he grabbed the remote.
The scent of his cologne was subtle but impossible to ignore, and Zack found himself hyperaware of the warmth radiating from Kieran's body.
As the movie started, Zack tried to focus on the screen, but his thoughts kept drifting.
He wasn't sure when it happened, but at some point, Kieran's shoulder brushed against his.
Zack tensed, his heart pounding as he felt the weight of Kieran's arm settle casually across the back of the couch.
This is nothing. It's just a movie. Just two people sharing a couch. /((I don't think so `͡° ͜ʖ ͡°))/
So why does it feel like my whole body is on fire?
The movie played on, but Zack barely registered it. His focus was entirely on Kieran—on the way his fingers lightly brushed Zack's shoulder, on the steady rise and fall of his breath.
When Kieran turned to look at him, Zack's breath hitched.
"You okay?" Kieran asked, his voice low.
Zack nodded quickly, his words failing him.
Kieran's gaze lingered, the flicker of something unspoken passing between them.
And then, as if realizing the moment was teetering on the edge of something neither of them could take back, Kieran pulled away slightly, his arm falling back to his side.
"Sorry," Kieran said softly, his tone filled with an apology Zack didn't understand.
Zack shook his head, his heart still racing. "It's fine."
But it wasn't. Not really.
What was that?
Was he just being friendly? Or was it something more?
The rest of the movie passed in silence, both of them too caught up in their own thoughts to speak. By the time the credits rolled, Zack felt more confused than ever.
He excused himself and went to bed, but as he lay in the unfamiliar comfort of Kieran's guest room, his mind replayed the night's events over and over.
The line between fake and real was blurring again, and Zack wasn't sure how much longer he could keep pretending it didn't matter.