The following days slipped by in a haze of deadlines, lectures, and stolen moments — moments that felt like tiny rebellions against the silence Kol and Sara had wrapped themselves in. Each passing glance, each accidental touch, felt like a secret between them, fragile and precious.
Sara had taken to wearing Kol's old hoodie sometimes — a soft, oversized thing that smelled faintly of him. It wasn't intentional, but when she caught Kol's quick glance lingering on her, she couldn't help but smile to herself.
Kol, for his part, was on edge. Every time Sara laughed, every time her hand brushed his, it felt like a spark set off a slow-burning fire deep inside. Yet, whenever he thought about confessing, his throat tightened and his courage fled.
---
One afternoon, the group gathered in their favorite coffee spot after classes. Nate was in rare form, cracking jokes and recounting the latest ridiculous college rumor. Jess was rolling her eyes but laughing all the same, while Ria debated fervently with Lina about the merits of pineapple on pizza.
Aarav sat beside Lina, his hand casually resting near hers — a small but deliberate gesture that made Lina's heart flutter.
Kol watched from across the table as Sara sipped her latte, her eyes occasionally flicking toward him. Their friendship was an unspoken dance, filled with missteps and near touches.
---
Later, as the sun dipped low, Kol and Sara found themselves walking home together, the quiet streets glowing under the golden light.
The conversation slowed, and soon the silence between them grew heavy.
Sara bit her lip nervously. "Kol… do you ever think about… us? Like, what if?"
Kol stopped walking, turning to face her. The air around them thickened, charged with words neither dared speak.
"I think about it every day," he admitted, voice low. "But I'm scared — scared of what it might mean if we cross that line."
Sara's eyes shimmered. "Me too."
---
Their shoulders brushed as they continued down the street. The tension was electric — a quiet storm threatening to break.
Kol's hand twitched, tempted to reach out, to finally close the gap.
But he held back.
---
The next morning, chaos erupted when Nate barged into their dorm room, waving a flyer.
"Guys! There's a charity dance this Friday — a fancy one. We have to go. Dress up, dance, drama — it'll be epic!"
Sara groaned. "You're killing me, Nate."
Jess smirked. "Sounds like the perfect excuse for Kol and Sara to finally… you know."
Kol choked on his coffee.
Sara shot Jess a warning look.
---
Friday came fast. The group transformed themselves with borrowed suits and sequined dresses. Kol in his crisp black shirt and Sara in a deep red dress that hugged her figure — both looked stunning and out of their usual comfort zones.
Lina and Aarav arrived hand in hand, their smiles shy but glowing.
The dance floor pulsed with energy and music, but Kol and Sara stayed close to the edge, eyes locked, words unspoken.
---
During a slow song, Kol found himself standing next to Sara, the space between them shrinking until their breaths mingled.
He reached out, fingers trembling, and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Sara's pulse raced, her heart thudding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
They were on the edge — almost touching, almost falling.
But just then, the music stopped, and the room erupted in cheers.
Lina's voice rang out: "Kol, Sara! Come dance!"
The spell broke. Kol stepped back, laughing nervously.
Sara's cheeks burned, but she smiled.
---
Later, as the night wound down, the group collapsed in a circle on the grass outside, breathless and laughing.
Nate nudged Kol. "So? What's the plan? Gonna tell her?"
Kol shook his head, smile tight.
"Not yet."
Sara caught his gaze and winked.
The morning light filtered softly through the blinds, casting striped shadows across Kol's room. The silence felt heavy, a weight pressing down as if the air itself was holding its breath. He lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the events of the charity dance over and over in his mind — Sara's red dress, her smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, the way her hair fell just so, and the barely-there touch of her fingers when she brushed past him.
He swallowed hard. The feelings swirling inside him were no longer a secret to himself. Yet the words? They refused to come out.
Across the hall, Sara was battling the same storm. Her reflection in the mirror caught her off guard—eyes wide, heart pounding. She smoothed down the front of her favorite shirt, tried to steady her breathing. The almost-kiss, the laughter, the teasing glances—they haunted her in daylight now. She was angry at herself for the denial but terrified of what admitting the truth might mean.
---
The campus was alive with the usual buzz as Kol and Sara met by the entrance of the lecture hall. Nate, ever the instigator, smirked knowingly as he sauntered over with Jess and Ria trailing behind.
"So, how are we doing on the 'finally tell her' front?" Nate teased, nudging Kol.
Kol's jaw tightened, forcing a smile. "I'm fine."
Sara gave Kol a quick glance, cheeks faintly flushed.
Ria giggled. "You two are like the ultimate slow-burn soap opera."
Jess smirked. "At this rate, the semester might be over before they admit anything."
Kol wanted to disappear.
---
Classes dragged on, punctuated by stolen moments—Sara passing Kol notes, his hand brushing hers as they reached for the same textbook, laughter shared over inside jokes only they understood.
One afternoon, while studying in the library, Sara caught Kol staring at her with an intensity that made her breath hitch. She cleared her throat nervously.
"Kol… what if we just stopped pretending?"
Kol blinked, heart racing. "Stop pretending what?"
"That we don't feel this." She gestured vaguely between them.
He bit his lip, shook his head. "I'm scared. Scared I'll lose you if I mess this up."
Sara's voice softened. "I'm scared too. But maybe the risk is worth it."
They sat in silence, the unspoken feelings wrapping around them like a fragile thread.
---
Kol and Sara exchanged amused glances, the levity a welcome balm to their internal turmoil.
---
Days passed, each one weaving them closer—through laughter, frustration, and unspoken longing.
One chilly evening, Kol and Sara found themselves alone again, the dorm quiet except for the soft hum of the city outside.
Kol reached out impulsively, fingers brushing Sara's cheek. Her breath hitched.
Their eyes locked, a thousand things unsaid hanging in the space between them.
But neither moved forward. The fear, the denial, the uncertainty — it all held them back.
Sara pulled away gently. "Maybe soon."
Kol nodded, heart pounding.
---
As they drifted apart that night, both lay awake, tangled in their thoughts. The walls between them were crumbling, but the final step remained elusive.
---