The bell above the diner door jingles as I push it open, the warm smell of pancakes and fried food hitting me immediately.

Luna is already there, sitting at our usual booth by the window.

She’s scrolling on her phone, but as soon as I walk in, her head snaps up.

She's wearing a big anticipatory smile on her face and her hair is left loose in her wild curls.

The booth is not exactly cute but it's familiar, worn-down leather seats with a tear patched up with duct tape on the side where I usually sit.

There’s an old napkin dispenser in the middle of the table, and two empty glasses waiting for soda refills. Outside the window, the afternoon sun paints the parking lot in golden light that makes everything seems like it will never end.

I tried convincing her that this place is not good enough for our random dated but she loves it and I love her so whatever.

Luna stands the second I reach the table, and before I can slide into my seat, she grabs me by the front of my hoodie and pulls me into a kiss.

Her lips are soft and warm, a sudden jolt of electricity racing through me as my brain catches up to what’s happening.

Luna doesn’t do stuff like this, not in public. Definitely not during the day. But here she is, kissing me like we’re the only two people in here, on the planet.

I’m frozen for a moment before I kiss her back, my hands awkwardly gripping her shoulders.

When she finally pulls away, I’m left staring at her, wide-eyed and breathless.

“What the hell was that?” I whisper, glancing around the diner.

That’s when I see Margret, sitting two booths down with her friends, rolling her eyes and twisting her lips like she had swallows bitter stuff.

“Wow,” I mutter, looking back at Luna. “Petty.”

Luna rolls her eyes and shrugs, but there’s a flicker of something in her expression—pride.

“Don’t you love it?” she asks, sliding back into her seat and tossing her hair over her shoulder like she doesn’t care who’s watching.

I scoff, slipping into the seat across from her. “I want to do it again.”

Her lips twitch into a small smile, and for a second, it’s just us again. The diner fades away, Margret and her bitter little face don’t matter, and all I can think about is how good it felt to have Luna kiss me like that.

We order milkshakes and fries because it’s what we always do.

I’m halfway through dipping a fry into ketchup when Luna asks, “So, how are the exams going?”

I shrug, chewing slowly. “Fine, I guess. Chemistry was hell, though. I probably bombed it.”

She frowns, stirring her chocolate milkshake with her straw. “You’re too hard on yourself. You probably did great.”

“Yeah, well, ‘probably’ isn’t enough to stop my dad from freaking out if I fail.”

Luna leans forward, resting her chin in her hand. “Have you thought about college yet? Like, what you want to do?”

I glance at the window, watching a car pull into the lot. “Not really. I mean, I guess I’ll go, but it’s not like I have some grand plan or anything.”

I don't want to have this conversation. Anything where I need to outright admit that I'm considering leaving this town or Luna just ruins my day so I avoid it altogether.

But Luna is going for that Photography gig this summer and she will be leaving me. And I can't hold back her dreams, even if I tried to.

She nods, and for a second, it’s quiet between us, the comfortable kind of silence where neither of us feels the need to fill it.

When we’re done eating, Luna grabs the check before I can and insists on paying.

“You can get it next time,” she says, flashing me a coy grin.

We leave the diner, the warm evening air wrapping around us as we walk to my car.

The drive to her place is quiet, the radio playing some soft indie song that I don’t know the words to but like anyway.

When we pull into her driveway, the house looks exactly how it always does. The porch light is on, even though the sun hasn’t fully set, and the flowerbeds along the walkway are blooming with tiny pops of color.

“Mom’s working a night shift,” Luna says as we step inside, kicking off her shoes by the door. “And Rue’s out with friends.”

I follow her to her room, the air inside cool and smelling faintly of lavender.

Her bed is small but covered with a floral comforter that matches the curtains. There’s a desk in the corner cluttered with notebooks and pens, a bookshelf crammed with everything from novels to random knick-knacks, and fairy lights strung across the walls.

I memorized this place so much I can say what's where even in my sleep.

I sit on the edge of her bed, running my fingers over the fabric of the comforter.

“Your room is so much cozier than mine. Mine’s just… boring.”

I've told her this before but I can't help it everytime I'm in here.

Luna grins, sitting cross-legged beside me. “You could always borrow some fairy lights. Instant cozy vibes.”

She chuckles.

I roll my eyes but smile anyway, leaning back until I’m lying down. Luna lies down next to me, her shoulder brushing against mine.

For a moment, neither of us says anything. The room is quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the distant sound of a dog barking outside.

Then Luna turns her head, her face so close to mine that I can feel her breath against my cheek.

“Can I kiss you again?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nod, my heart thudding in my chest.
She has no idea how much I want her to do that.

She leans in, her lips finding mine in a kiss that feels like the first time everyday.

My hand moves to her waist, pulling her closer as the world outside her room fades away. It’s just us, tangled up in each other, the rest of the world forgotten.

When we finally pull apart, Luna rests her forehead against mine, her eyes half-closed and her lips curled into a small, satisfied smile.

“I could get used to this,” I whisper, my fingers still brushing against her side.

Her smile widens, and she leans in again, her lips raving against mine and I know she wants me.