… new. Every glance between Krisma and Jake carried an unspoken layer, every touch lingered just a second longer than it used to. Marrie and Sophie noticed, of course. Marrie took every chance to tease them, while Sophie played the role of quiet observer, smiling knowingly when Krisma caught her eye.
One Friday afternoon, the four of them decided to head to the arcade, a favourite spot from their younger days. The neon lights flickered, the scent of buttered popcorn filled the air, and the distant clanging of pinball machines surrounded them.
Krisma and Jake ended up playing air hockey while Marrie and Sophie battled it out at the racing games. Every time Jake scored, he'd flash that cheeky grin that made Krisma's heart skip a beat. When she finally managed to win a round, he leaned in close and murmured, "Guess I'll have to let you win more often."
Her cheeks burned, but she smirked. "Or maybe I'm just better than you now."
They moved on to the claw machine, where Jake somehow managed to snag a small, plush fox. Without hesitation, he handed it to her. "For you. So you'll remember I'm not entirely useless at games."
Later, the group grabbed milkshakes at the café next door. The conversation flowed easily, the same familiar comfort wrapping around them like always. But underneath it, Krisma felt something else - a deep, quiet happiness she hadn't expected. The fear of ruining what they had was fading, replaced with the hope of building something even stronger.
As they left, Jake walked beside her, their hands brushing until he finally laced his fingers with hers. Marrie spotted it immediately and groaned dramatically. "Ugh, you two are ridiculous."
Sophie just laughed. "Give them a break. It's cute."
Krisma squeezed Jake's hand, smiling at her friends. In that moment, she realised the best friendships could grow and change - and still stay just as strong. the end.