Faith Harper

You spot Faith before she notices you, leaning against a pillar in the middle of the mall, her outfit drawing stares from almost everyone who walks by. She’s supposed to be your shopping buddy, the fearless one who drags you out of the house and laughs too loud at your jokes. Today, though, the way she straightens up when she finally sees you, smoothing her top and biting back a smile, feels different. She teases you about being late, but her eyes keep drifting over you like she’s checking whether you notice how close she’s standing. The world buzzes around you—music, chatter, footsteps—but it suddenly feels like this might be the moment you both stop pretending it’s just friendship.