Watching Paige and Tony go off and be so happy feels like a punch to the gut every time you see the two of them within 6 metres of each other. Which, just so happens to be, a lot.

What doesn't help matters is that Shrignold keeps staring at you with wide eyes when he sees you, as if you're doing something mildly disgusting.

But whatever. Suck it up, right.

Paige has been your best friend for a while now. You've supported each other through just about everything life throws at you- she's held you while you cried; you've stroked her hair while she freezes and stares into space, you've both wiped away each other's tears. And you always thought that feeling- the one that feels like glowing; like glitter; like warmth- was an indicator of your friendship.

It was never about friendship. It was always about holding her hand because nobody, not even her, would suspect anything more than platonic about it. It was about letting her fall asleep on you because you loved the feeling of her warm, soft body against yours. It was about risqué truth or dare sessions everyone assumed was just the two of you messing around.

You could still do all that. But now there's the edge of reality that, simply, all it ever will be is platonic.

It's chucking it down outside. Anyone in their right mind would be inside where it's warm and dry- but you glance out into the garden and watch Paige sat in the centre of the grass, completely drenched. She's leant back, eyes closed in a serene expression, hands planted firmly in the ground. Her makeup runs down her face; her dress clings to her skin; and her hair sticks to her face. There's something angelic about the scene.

You open the door and head out into the rain. It makes you shudder from the sheer cold, but you take a deep breath and go to where she's sat. She opens her eyes and smiles.

"Hi, Y/N." She pats the ground next to her and you join her. It's muddy, but you try not to let it bother you.

She stays silent, just listening to the steady sound of the water hitting your surroundings. In the distance, theres a low rumble of thunder.

"Hear that?" She smiles. "Isn't this the most perfect weather? Sunshine is alright, but this has so much more... personality!" She smiles.

"I thought the weather was boring." You smile, recalling that day with Tony in the living room.

"Not when you're outside in it." She stands up and stretches. "Hey, Y/N. When I was a little kid, and it would chuck it down, I used to run around outside and get utterly soaked." She laughs. "My mumma would be screaming at me to get inside before I caught a cold, but I never listened. Somehow I never got sick, either."

You smile. "When I was little, me and my best friend at the time used to dance outside in the rain. We had no music, we sometimes sang it, but most of the time we just did it in silence while laughing." You smile.

Paige grins, and takes your hand. "Can I lead?"

"What?"

"Well, you just said you like to dance in the rain. Do you lead, or me?"

"Um- you choose."

"Fine." She smiles and dances with you. She's more graceful than you in her movements, but you both eventually get into it. Like you described, the only sound is the rain and the two of you laughing.

She finally pulls away from you. "I'm gonna go dry off. See you."

She smiles and leaves you outside in the pouring rain.