Meilin's POV
The night air on the rooftop was cool against my skin, a welcome contrast to the stuffy heat of the club below. I had slipped away barefoot, heels in one hand, leaning against the edge as the lights of London blinked like a sleepy lullaby behind me.
I hadn't heard the door open.
But I felt him.
Arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind—warm, firm, possessive. A lazy smirk pressed near my ear before I even turned my head.
"Running from me, firecracker?"
Theo.
I tensed for a second, caught off guard—but he was already pressing his cheek into my hair, that stupid cigarette hanging unlit from his lips.
"You really have no concept of personal space, do you?" I muttered, trying not to melt.
He didn't answer. Just hummed low in his throat, like I was some kind of comfort he never got tired of.
When I turned in his arms, I reached up and snatched the cigarette from his lips.
"Seriously? Still carrying this around?"
He gave a low laugh, looking down at me like I was the most entertaining thing on this rooftop. "Didn't light it. You'd murder me."
"You're right. I would."
"I've been better about it, haven't I?"
I shrugged, teasing. "You're still an idiot."
"Your idiot, though?" he asked, almost too casually.
My cheeks flushed. I looked away.
"You make me want to be less of one," he added, quieter now.
I froze, heart in my throat. And then, softly: "You're different."
He took a step closer, eyes locked on mine. "So are you."
I didn't realize how close we were until our noses almost touched.
"You're chaos and sunlight," he said. "And I'd set fire to everything just to feel this way again."
My breath hitched. "Why are you always saying things like that?"
"Because I mean them."
The city went quiet beneath us.
"I won't kiss you," he whispered. "Not until you want me to."
And I didn't say yes.
But I didn't walk away either.
Meilin's POV
I don't know how long we stood there, wrapped in a silence louder than fireworks. His hand was still on my waist. My heart was somewhere near the moon.
And then—
"Oh my GOD, what did I just walk into?" Ava's voice sliced through the rooftop air like a fire alarm.
I nearly jumped out of Theo's arms as she came stumbling forward, one hand dramatically shielding her eyes. "Meilin Chen! I leave you alone for ten minutes and you go full rom-com rooftop kiss moment with Mr. Tattoos?"
"Ava—!"
And right behind her came Austin, wheezing from laughter, one hand over his chest like he'd seen a ghost. "No, no, no. This is too much. I think I need therapy. Who gave y'all permission to be this… this cinematic?"
Theo just sighed behind me. "Why are you two like this?"
Ava gasped, dropping to her knees like she'd been shot. "This is it. I've lost my best friend. Gone. Snatched by a guy with five piercings and a nicotine problem."
Austin dramatically leaned against the wall. "I thought I was the only charming bad boy she'd like. I've been betrayed."
I covered my face with both hands, laughing through my blush. "You're both unhinged."
Theo muttered, "They're actually worse than I thought."
Ava crawled over and grabbed my hand like she was mourning me. "We were supposed to be single, dramatic law students together. And now look at you. Being held like a heroine in a Wattpad novel."
Austin threw an arm around Ava's shoulder. "Don't worry. You still have me, sunshine."
Ava snorted. "Oh, shut up."
Theo just smirked and leaned down, whispering to me again. "Still think I'm not your type?"
I rolled my eyes—but I didn't move away.