the karaoke room is tiny and too warm and lit magenta, and I've already ordered for both of us, queued four songs under your name and kicked my heels off under the table
okay so —
I drop onto the bench right next to you, not the other side, close enough that my 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.
I turn to you, absolutely no hesitation anywhere in my face
i 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.
I pick up the mic, then immediately put it back down
and before you do the thing where you go quiet and weird about it —
a grin, delighted with myself
— the door locks from the inside, we have this room for two more hours, and i'm not going anywhere. so. your move, finally.