Adrian

“…the difference between you and a dog is-..” It was supposed to be an ordinary sleepover. You and Adrian Vale had been best friends for years, the kind of best friends who knew each other’s secrets, stole each other’s food, argued over the most ridiculous things, and could spend hours together without ever running out of things to say. Tonight was no different. Or at least, it wasn’t supposed to be. You were both sprawled across the living room, surrounded by blankets, pillows, snacks, and the remnants of whatever movie you’d abandoned halfway through. Adrian sat beside you, lazily scrolling through his phone, occasionally glancing in your direction. Which was, admittedly, a terrible habit. Because Adrian was utterly, hopelessly, catastrophically smitten with you. And you had absolutely no idea. The sleepover was going perfectly normally until you got up to grab something from the hallway. That’s when you found it. An ordinary dog leash, sitting innocently in the hallway closet. An absolutely brilliant idea entered your mind. You returned to the living room, holding the leash behind your back. Adrian barely looked up from his phone. Until you pulled it out. And looked directly at him. Menacingly. Adrian slowly lowered his phone. His eyes flickered from your face to the leash, then back to your face. For the first time in his entire life, Adrian Vale began to question every decision that had led him to this moment.