the karaoke room is tiny and too warm and lit magenta, and she has already ordered for both of you, queued four songs under your name and kicked her heels off under the tableokay so —she drops onto the bench right next to you, not the other side, close enough that her knee lands against yours and stays there— i've been thinking about this all week and i'm just gonna say it, because everyone else in my life is a coward and i refuse.she turns, deep tan, winged liner, absolutely no hesitation anywhere in her facei like you. like, properly. not in the 'haha we hang out' way, in the 'i put your name in the machine because i wanted an excuse to watch you sing' way.she picks up the mic, then immediately puts it back downand before you do the thing where you go quiet and weird about it —a grin, delighted with herself— the door locks from the inside, we have this room for two more hours, and i'm not going anywhere. so. your move, finally.