Hey how are you?? Could you write something where Timothée (or any of his characters) and fem reader have a best friend like relationship like leaning into each other when laughing or things like that
hi, sweets! it wasn't very clear to me whether you'd prefer something more platonic or a friends to lovers dynamic, so sorry if it’s not what you wanted! happy new year everyone! ㅤ♡ྀི
୧ ‧₊˚ just friends, right?
₊⊹ summary: two friends, one unspoken love. you and timothée struggle with their feelings, afraid to ruin everything. after a tense buildup, they finally admit the truth and step into something new together.
₊⊹ pairing: timothée chalamet x reader
₊⊹ warnings: idiots in love, heavy on pinning, messy feelings, a little angst, slowburn.
₊⊹ author's note: sorry for the delay—i’ve been super busy because i just graduated from high school! the school year here is a bit different from what you might be used to. our academic calendar usually ends in december, which is why i disappeared for a bit—i had so much going on!
the manhattan sun felt hotter that summer of 2002. you were just a six-year-old child, curious and reserved, the kind who preferred watching the world rather than diving into it. afternoons were spent at the neighborhood park, where the shade of old trees offered welcome relief from the heat. while other kids ran and played, you sat at the edge of the fountain, holding a strawberry ice cream that always melted too quickly.
it was there that you saw timothée for the first time. he appeared like a storm: awkward, dirty, and determined, clutching a blue frisbee to his chest with an urgency that seemed exaggerated for someone so small.
“hide this for me!” he yelled, his hazel eyes wide. before you could respond, he shoved the frisbee into your hands and ducked behind the fountain.
you looked at the toy, then at two older boys who appeared moments later, panting. “did you see a kid run by with this?”
you shook your head, gripping the frisbee tightly. the boys muttered something before walking away, and timothée emerged from his hiding spot, his face lit up with a smile of relief.
“thanks for that! i’m timothée,” he said, extending a dirty hand towards you.
you hesitated for a moment but ended up shaking his hand. “can i call you timmy?”
from that day on, timothée started showing up everywhere. at the park, at school, even at your building’s doorstep, with ideas for adventures that never seemed to work out but always ended in laughter. he was everything you weren’t: impulsive, fearless, and loud. and, somehow, that made sense.
one afternoon, as you climbed a tree to fetch a kite stuck in the branches, he looked at you with the kind of awkward confidence only kids have. “did you know that friends are like brothers you get to choose?”
you laughed, thinking that was a silly thing to say. but somehow, it stayed with you.
manhattan in winter was a moving painting. fog danced between the trees at bryant park, and the smell of roasted chestnuts mingled with the icy air. you crossed the bustling streets of soho with timothée by your side, both bundled in heavy coats that barely kept out the cold. he wore a black cap, the brim pulled low to hide his face, but his relaxed posture gave him away. he was used to being recognized, even when pretending otherwise.
“why do you always make me walk in the cold?” you complained, adjusting your scarf.
“because the cold makes us feel alive,” he answered with a crooked smile. “and, honestly, i needed coffee. good coffee.”
the café he picked felt like a portal to another decade. dark wooden tables, fogged-up windows, and a jukebox in the corner playing nina simone. the owner, an older man with gray hair and a warm expression, greeted timothée with a knowing nod, as if they were old friends.
“is this where you hide?” you asked, as he chose the furthest table.
“not always. but today feels like the right place.”
you sat across from him, your fingers still cold as you cradled the warm cup the waitress brought moments later. timothée ordered a cappuccino, as usual, while you opted for a chai latte with oat milk — something he always teased you about.
“can’t you just order coffee? it’s a coffee shop, not a tea salon.”
“you’re so predictable,” you replied, teasing him back.
despite the casual tone, something felt different that day. he seemed more introspective, his fingers absently tracing the rim of his cup as his eyes wandered over the people around you.
“is everything okay?” you asked, leaning in slightly.
“yeah, just… sometimes it’s hard to shut it off, you know?”
“all of it.” he gestured towards the window, where a group of teenagers passed by with their phones, clearly trying to sneak a peek inside. “the constant attention. the expectations. when i’m with you, it feels like… a break.”
you stayed silent for a moment, absorbing his words. “maybe because i’ve never treated you like someone who needs to impress me.”
he smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “yeah, maybe that’s it.”
the silence between you was comfortable but heavy. you knew there was more behind his words, but you decided not to push. with timothée, things needed to be unraveled on his time.
later that day, you both went to evan’s loft, an eccentric director who always gathered artists, musicians, and writers for intimate parties. the place was a mix of chaos and elegance: worn leather couches, shelves overflowing with books, and an entire wall covered in vintage movie posters.
music echoed through the walls, laughter mingling with the sound of crystal glasses clinking in exaggerated toasts. in one corner, the beat of a hip-hop track seemed to make the floor vibrate, while in another, conversations flowed smoothly over red wine and quiet chuckles.
when you and timothée arrived, the scene felt uncomplicated, even familiar. the kind of party you always attended with him, where the sense of being out of place was outweighed by his presence. as always, he was the center of attention, effortlessly. people gravitated towards him with ease, and the fact that timothée seemed uninterested in being the “star” of the night only made him shine brighter, as if his modesty was yet another irresistible quality.
you, on the other hand, felt like a shadow beside him. it wasn’t uncomfortable, but you knew that standing next to him, people looked at you with a certain fascination too — as if, by osmosis, you absorbed some of the light that surrounded him. still, timothée seemed oblivious to everything happening around him. shortly after arriving, he disappeared, as he often did, seeking a bit of personal space amidst the chaos.
not knowing what to do, you found yourself wandering through the party, feeling slightly out of place but also entertained. the environment, though lively, had something comforting about it. you joined a small group of timothée’s friends, some familiar, others not so much. among them was ethan, a young artist you’d started talking to a few weeks earlier. his laid-back demeanor quickly revealed itself as he began a conversation that started with a discussion about the meaning of art and drifted into inside jokes about a notoriously clueless art critic.
the conversation flowed effortlessly, and you felt like you could lose yourself in those words, a kind of familiarity that brought comfort. the outside world felt distant — you no longer worried about timothée being elsewhere, as your focus remained on that small circle.
but even with the chatter and laughter around you, something in the air felt off. something in you, or maybe in the space itself, left the impression that there was more between the people than just the pleasure of company.
you tried to ignore it, letting yourself get caught up in ethan’s story about an art exhibit he’d recently attended. however, when you glanced around the room, your eyes met timothée’s. he was standing in the kitchen, his back to the party, his shoulders relaxed, but his gaze sharper than usual, fixed on you.
for a moment, you didn’t think much of it. you were used to his constant presence, the way he always seemed to be nearby, subtly but intensely. yet, something about that look made him seem distant, as if he were taking in more of you than you were ready to give in that instant.
but you continued your conversation with ethan, laughing at his story about a difficult client in a gallery. you didn’t notice that, meanwhile, timothée remained there, unmoving, watching you. his presence felt closer than it actually was, as if he were silently following every word you spoke, every gesture you made.
later that night, as the party dwindled and the music softened, you slipped out onto evan’s fire escape for some fresh air. the chill of the night cut through the warmth of the crowded loft, and the city below seemed quieter, somehow, as if holding its breath.
you leaned against the railing, eyes tracing the lights of manhattan, when you heard the window behind you slide open. timothée stepped out, holding a glass of wine, his coat hanging loosely on his shoulders.
“needed a moment?” he asked, his voice soft, the question almost casual.
you nodded, not looking at him at first. “yeah. it’s… a lot in there.”
he joined you at the railing, standing just a little too close. the silence between you wasn’t uncomfortable, but it felt thick with something unspoken.
after a few moments, he glanced over at you. “so, ethan… he seems nice.”
you turned toward him, surprised by the comment. “he is. we were just talking, nothing special.”
timothée didn’t respond immediately, but his gaze lingered on you. the way he said nothing at all made you wonder if there was more to his words than just a simple observation.
you raised an eyebrow. “what’s with the look?”
he shrugged, the faintest of smiles tugging at the corner of his lips. “nothing. i just… i don’t know. it’s just different, seeing you with someone else, i guess.”
his words hung in the air between you. it wasn’t what you expected to hear, but it wasn’t exactly surprising either. still, something in his tone made you uneasy.
“why does it matter?” you asked, turning to face him, your voice steady but edged with something you couldn’t quite place.
he didn’t answer right away. instead, he took another sip of his wine, the glass clinking gently as he lowered it. “i don’t know. maybe it doesn’t. i’ve just never really thought about it until now.”
you frowned, unsure what to make of the sudden shift in the conversation. “you’ve never thought about it?”
timothée shifted, his body facing the city now, but his eyes seemed unfocused. “i mean, not like this. not… seeing you with someone else. it’s strange. i guess i’ve always kind of assumed you’d be around. always.”
there was something in his voice, something almost… vulnerable. but it wasn’t obvious, not in the way you’d expect. it wasn’t even a confession. it was just a thought, slipping out when it wasn’t supposed to.
you didn’t know how to respond. all you could do was stand there, absorbing the weight of his words without fully understanding them.
after a long pause, you spoke, quieter now. “you don’t have to worry about me. i’m not… i’m not going anywhere.”
he turned to look at you, his expression unreadable. for a moment, he didn’t speak. then, his lips parted, but the words didn’t come. he swallowed, a flicker of something in his eyes, before he nodded.
“yeah,” he said, his voice softer now, as if he’d said everything he needed to without even meaning to. “i guess i’m just… not used to things changing.”
the silence between you stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. it was… understanding, like two people standing on the edge of something they couldn’t quite name, unsure of where to step next.
you looked back at the city, the lights twinkling in the distance. “things don’t always change the way we expect,” you said, your voice distant, almost thoughtful.
timothée didn’t respond immediately, but you felt him beside you, a presence you couldn’t quite define.
“yeah,” he murmured after a beat, his tone quieter now. “i guess not.”
neither of you spoke for a while. the night stretched on, the city buzzing below, and the weight of the moment seemed to hang there, unspoken, yet understood.
finally, you sighed softly and turned back toward the window, feeling the pull of the warmth inside. timothée lingered a little longer, watching you, before he followed.
the door closed behind him, and the noise of the party seemed to rush back in. but somehow, things felt a little different. less urgent. like maybe, for just a moment, you’d stepped away from it all.
fridays always had something magical about them, something that unfolded in the air with the same naturalness as a tradition that didn’t need to be spoken. the hours passed differently on those nights, when routine faded away and the world outside seemed distant, not so urgent, not so fast. together, fridays belonged to the two of you, and nothing else mattered. it was as if time had been molded for those moments, where the small kitchen and soft laughter created a bubble that no one else could invade.
timothée arrived late, as usual. the door opened, and he rushed in, grocery bags swinging in his hands. he wasn’t in too much of a hurry, but you knew he was somehow anxious. his smile, that half-crooked grin, was there, but there was something different in his eyes, something more restrained.
“i brought wine,” he said, in the laid-back tone of someone trying not to make it a big deal, but failing in the effort. “and taco ingredients. for a change, you know?”
you raised an eyebrow, a half-smile forming. “tacos? you know we always put too much spice, right?”
he laughed, setting the bags on the counter. “that’s part of the charm. we can’t make tacos without a little bit of excitement.”
you couldn’t help but smile, as you always did. his little remarks had that power — making the simple feel grand. though you weren’t exactly sure what it was, you felt there was something in timothée that made the nights stretch and warm up, without needing much else.
as you organized the ingredients, your movements were so automatic that they seemed choreographed, as if the years of cooking together had etched each gesture into your body. timothée cut the vegetables with his usual concentration, but there was something more in this moment, something you couldn’t quite put into words. the kitchen’s ambiance, the soft lighting, the interrupted laughter… everything seemed to carry a different weight, a subtle tension you couldn’t identify.
“remember that time we tried to make sushi?” timothée asked, his voice low, his laugh overtaking his tone.
you looked up, laughing instantly. “how could i forget? it was a complete disaster. the rice stuck to everything. even the cat felt sorry for us.”
“but still, it was fun,” he said, smiling to himself. “even when nothing went right, it always felt… right in the end.”
and you agreed with a nod, feeling a silent connection that, somehow, never faded, no matter how much life changed. it was as if this moment, this night, was more than just food and conversation — it was a reflection of something you had built together, but that you both knew was undefined.
the food was delicious. the tacos, perhaps slightly too spicy as usual, but perfect in a way only the two of you knew how to make. you sat on the couch after dinner, the empty plates and wine glasses being refilled again, as if there was nothing else to do but enjoy the night.
the movie started, one of those classics you’d watched so many times you could recite the lines without making a mistake. the images on the screen were familiar, but as you looked to the side, you noticed there was something new in that place — and it wasn’t just the movie playing. it was the silence that filled the spaces between you, the way the words were becoming slower, as if the air had thickened.
timothée was lying on the couch, his head resting against the cushion, but his eyes seemed to wander into the void. the movie continued, but he wasn’t there. or rather, he was there, but it seemed as though he was lost in something you didn’t know how to access.
and you, sitting beside him, didn’t know what to do with the growing sense of discomfort. it wasn’t discomfort in the usual sense of the word. it wasn’t something bad, but rather… something that made the space between you two feel heavier, more intense.
you pulled your legs up, drawing them close to your chest, the automatic position of someone seeking a bit of comfort. timothée’s gaze never left the screen, but you could feel, in every tense muscle, that he was aware of your presence — more than you could comprehend.
for a moment, you weren’t sure if you were being watched, but somehow, you felt the weight of his attention on you. the way he was lying, still, seemed to communicate something more, as if he was holding onto something he wasn’t willing to share. it stirred something in you, subtly, but deeply.
then, without intending to, your eyes met. the instant it happened, you tried to quickly look away, but something in his gaze held you. there was a warmth there, an intensity that didn’t make sense, as though the mere act of eye contact had shattered the fragile line between who you were and what you could be. the movie kept playing, but neither of you was paying attention to the screen anymore.
“why are you looking at me like that?” timothée’s question came softly, but it carried something you couldn’t identify.
“i wasn’t looking,” you replied automatically, defensiveness taking over. but the answer felt hollow, and you knew it.
“yes, you were.” he smiled, but it was a brief smile, almost as though he had just realized something he didn’t want to. something he didn’t want you to see.
you laughed, trying to deflect the tension that now hung in the air. “you’re so conceited.”
“and you’re a terrible liar,” he replied, with the usual lightness, but his voice sounded a little deeper. his laugh didn’t reach his eyes, and that made your heart beat a little faster, out of sync.
time seemed to stretch around you both, and for a moment, all that remained was that silence, intertwining into something undefined. you both knew there was something more there, but neither of you seemed capable of talking about it. it was easier to ignore. it was easier to let the words get lost in the air, never taking shape.
when the movie ended and the credits began to roll, you both remained silent. the kind of silence that only exists between two people who share something profound, but don’t know how to express it.
timothée stood up to grab his jacket, but paused at the door. for a moment, it seemed like he was about to say something, but in the end, he just turned to you. his gaze was gentle, but there was an intensity there that couldn’t be ignored.
“good night, chérie,” he said, his voice softer than usual. it wasn’t just a goodbye. it was an unspoken farewell.
you responded, trying to mask the confusion now filling your chest. “good night, timmy.”
and when he finally left, the emptiness that filled the room felt larger than ever. not just because he had left, but because you knew, without a doubt, that something had changed between you two. something neither of you was willing to admit. something hanging in the air, heavy and undeniable.
it was a quiet night, but the silence in the apartment felt like a constant echo, an emptiness slowly expanding as the hours passed. the wind blew through the streets of new york, carrying with it a soft murmur that mixed with the muffled sounds of the city that never sleeps. but inside your home, everything felt calmer, more introspective, as if the world outside had been left behind.
you were sitting on the couch, your legs curled beneath you, your gaze lost in the candle still burning on the low table. your mind, however, was far from those small, flickering flames. your thoughts were elsewhere, on someone else — timothée. it was almost impossible not to think about him now. he was in your mind with an unsettling intensity, a constant presence, as if he had infiltrated every corner of your being, making it hard to breathe without thinking of him.
you had promised yourself you wouldn’t think about it. that you wouldn’t let yourself get lost in that thin line between friendship and something more. but in the past few weeks, the space between you two seemed to have closed, the unspoken words weighing more than anything that had been verbalized. his touch, the lingering glances, the laughter for no apparent reason. everything seemed to point to something beyond what friendship allowed. but at the same time, there was no clarity. he never said anything, and you never dared to. it was as if you both were just… waiting.
the sound of the doorbell pulled you from your thoughts. for a moment, you thought about ignoring it, sinking further into the confusion of your own feelings. but when you looked at the clock, you realized mia should be there. she always showed up unannounced, without explanation, and you never minded. in fact, you liked it, because mia’s visits were always a breath of fresh air in the emotional storm you found yourself in.
when you opened the door, mia stepped in with her wide smile and a look that already said everything. she had this way of sensing things before anyone else, and the concern in her eyes was evidence that, once again, she knew you were distant, lost in your own thoughts.
“you’re not okay, and i already know why,” mia said, setting her bag aside and throwing herself onto the couch beside you. “you’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”
you gave a weak smile, but you couldn’t lie. mia was like a radar, always picking up on what you tried to hide. “yeah. i can’t stop thinking about him. i just… don’t know what to do, mia.”
she looked at you for a moment, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if waiting for something more. when you didn’t say anything, she leaned forward a little, letting go of her usual casual tone, replacing it with a seriousness you recognized well.
“i can give you advice, you know that. but the truth is, you already know what’s going on. you just don’t want to admit it.”
you sighed, letting your head fall back against the couch. your gaze fixed on the window, but all you could see was the reflection of your own thoughts. “i don’t know what’s going on. i… feel like something’s changed. he’s changed. or maybe it’s me.”
“it’s not you. i mean, not just you. he’s changed too. it’s not just the way you look at him, you know. he feels it too. i see the way he looks at you when no one’s watching. he cares about you. it’s not just friendship, you can’t ignore that.”
mia’s words hit you like a jolt of electricity. you shut your eyes, trying not to hear. but at the same time, her words seemed to dance around your thoughts, as if they were touching a part of you you’d been trying to silence. it was true. you felt it, but you were scared to admit it.
“he’s… timothée. he’s my best friend, mia. i can’t do this. i can’t mess everything up. what if he doesn’t feel the same? what if everything changes after? i don’t know how to handle that.”
mia laughed, a low, cynical laugh. “i find it funny how you try to convince yourself he doesn’t feel the same, when everyone in the room can see the way he looks at you. when everyone sees how you two behave around each other. there’s no hiding it. but the fear you have of losing him is real, i know that. but it won’t change anything if you don’t talk about it. it’ll keep weighing on you.”
you bit your lip, your breathing becoming more irregular as the thoughts scrambled through your mind. “what if i speak up? what if i take the risk? i can’t do it. i can’t… risk losing everything we have. everything we’ve always had.”
“but you’re already losing everything, aren’t you? it’s already lost, you just won’t admit it. what you have now isn’t friendship, it’s a minefield. you’re both stepping on something much deeper and trying to pretend everything’s fine.”
the silence between you grew heavy. no more words. just the sense of an inevitable future that you didn’t know if you were ready to face. mia’s gaze, firm and deep, disarmed you. you knew she was right, but confronting it, admitting it, felt like ripping a blindfold off your eyes. and you weren’t sure if you were ready to see what was truly in front of you.
“what do i do, mia?” you finally asked, your voice softer, wearier. “what do i do when everything feels so… uncertain?”
mia looked at you, a gentle smile forming on her face. “you do what your heart tells you. no matter what happens. if it’s him, if it’s what you really want, then go after it. no matter how hard it is. no matter if you think you’ll lose everything. if he’s what you need, you’ll have to take the risk. and in the end, it’ll be worth it.”
you closed your eyes for a moment, letting mia’s words sink in, feeling their weight settle within you. as silence filled the room once more, you felt something deeper, something profound. it was time to face yourself. to confront what was there, even if you didn’t know what to do with it yet.
you looked out the window, watching the soft moonlight reflect on the city streets. maybe it was time to finally understand what you were feeling. and more importantly, maybe it was time to understand what he was feeling too.
and as mia remained by your side, you knew there was no turning back. the decision was coming, and the night seemed even quieter, as if waiting for the moment everything would change.
it was one of those nights when time seemed to drag on. the apartment was enveloped in an almost solitary silence, with the yellowish light from the lamp casting soft shadows on the walls. the sound of the wind tapping against the window, the gentle rustling of the leaves outside, seemed to be part of a calm that didn’t match the storm brewing inside of you.
you sat there, next to timothée, with your back against the couch, feet curled up on the cushion while he was more at ease, legs stretched out, his head resting on the edge of the sofa. you were both wrapped in an aura of comfortable intimacy—the familiarity of every friday night. but something was different today. something in the air felt heavier, more tense, like a rope about to snap.
timothée grabbed the remote and changed the channel, but his eyes were no longer on the tv. they were somewhere beyond it, wandering through space, distant. you watched him without him noticing, and in that moment, you felt a subtle, almost invisible distance between the two of you that had never been there before. it was like he was distant, yet closer to you than anything else in the world.
you caught yourself thinking, once again, about what you didn’t say. the feelings you didn’t share. the confusion that took over your mind whenever he was near. how he made everything seem so easy, but at the same time, you knew that inside, he was more closed off than anything you had ever known. what you felt for him—not just friendship, but something bigger, stronger—was about to overflow. you could feel it. the ache in your chest, the warmth in your cheeks, the tension in your shoulders. it was more than the simple desire to be close to him; it was the desire to touch him in a different way, to be more than friends.
he was so distant, but still there, and you could no longer ignore it. the feeling of standing on the edge of an emotional cliff, waiting for him to turn around and see what you were trying to say, but without words. but today, maybe, it would be different. maybe you would finally have the courage to confess. what could go wrong, right?
“timmy,” you began, your voice hesitant, but firmer than you expected. he turned his face toward you, his eyes shining in the dim light of the room.
“yeah?” he didn’t know what you were about to say, but he felt the change in your tone. he always did. you could see the fear starting to appear in his eyes, but he tried to hide it.
you swallowed dryly, your mouth dry, but the urge to say it was stronger. you didn’t want to hide anymore. you couldn’t live in this uncertainty, waiting for him to notice what you felt. but at the same time, a voice inside you begged for you to pull back, to stay silent, as you always had.
“i don’t know how to start, but… i think you deserve to know,” you said, feeling your heart race faster. he stayed silent, waiting. but he didn’t know how much this was tearing you apart, how much you were about to open up in a way you never had before.
“i… i think i’m in love with you, timothée.”
the words came out in a nearly imperceptible sigh, but it was as if the world had stopped. everything felt heavier, the sound of the leaves tapping on the window, the silence filling the room, all of it fading as the words hung between the two of you, laden with deep meaning.
timothée didn’t respond immediately, and that made the blood rush faster through your veins. you looked at him, trying to find some answer, anything that would indicate that he felt the same. but there was nothing. nothing you could grasp, nothing you could touch. he was there, but he was somewhere else.
he shifted on the couch, clearly uncomfortable. his expression closed off, his shoulders tense, and for a moment, you thought he was going to laugh, that he would make some joke to break the tension. but he didn’t.
“chérie,” he began, his voice low, almost as if he were trying to find the right words. “i… i don’t know what you expect from me now.”
that sentence was a blow, but you tried to ignore it. it was okay, you could still keep control.
but what happened next was even more painful. he looked at you, his expression serious, his gaze distant, and you somehow realized that he was pulling away from you. not physically, but emotionally. something had changed. he was shutting down again, like he always did when he didn’t want to face what was right in front of him.
“i… i can’t do this, chérie,” he said, now not looking at you, his eyes fixed on the tv screen, but not really seeing it. “i don’t know what you want from me, but i can’t give you that.”
you felt the air leave your lungs, your chest tightening as if you had been punched. “but… why? can’t i be honest with you? what happened to our friendship?”
he sighed, exasperated but not angry. there was no anger. just something else… a pain he was trying to hide. “our friendship… is the only thing i can give you. i can’t give you more than that. i can’t. i don’t want to complicate everything.”
his voice was now more broken, and you could see he was struggling with something inside him, something he didn’t want to admit. you suddenly stood up, the movement abrupt as an attempt to distance yourself from the pain. you didn’t want to hear it anymore. you didn’t want to see him pulling away from you, but there was no choice. he had done it.
“i understand,” you replied, eyes full of tears, but you didn’t want him to see. you didn’t want to show him how much it was tearing you apart. “i just… thought it was more than this.”
you didn’t expect him to say anything more, and he didn’t. silence once again filled the room, heavy and dense. he stood up then, as if escaping from what he couldn’t handle. there were no more words. no more explanations. you felt empty, as if the ground beneath you had dissolved.
before leaving, he looked at you, but his gaze was distant, almost lost. there was no ‘goodnight’ or a smile. just a silent departure. and, the moment the door closed behind him, you felt what remained between the two of you unraveling.
the distance between the two of you had grown unbearably wide. no words, no gestures, not even a glance that lasted more than a few seconds. it was as if the mere fact of being in the same place had become an effort, a trying to walk through a minefield, where any word could destroy everything. the pain was invisible, silent, but it was there, constant, weighing down on your shoulders. and what hurt the most was that you didn’t know exactly what had happened, how what once seemed simple and natural had turned into something you couldn’t touch.
the days were long, and the thoughts, constant. no matter what you did, or where you looked, timothée was always there, in the back of your mind. it was a ghostly presence, a shadow that couldn’t be shaken off. there was something in his eyes when he looked at you, something you couldn’t identify, but that your heart knew. and the words he hadn’t said still echoed in your head, like a silent scream, a deafening silence.
the pain of not knowing what had happened between you two was starting to become unbearable. the emptiness of his absence seemed to stretch through your whole being, until you no longer knew what to do with it. it wasn’t just the physical distance between you, but something much deeper. what did all of this mean? what had been lost?
meanwhile, timothée was in his own silent prison. surrounded by the bustle of his work, the cameras, the interviews, he was, in reality, completely distant. what once seemed to be his perfectly organized life was now a mess. there was no more satisfaction in what he did. he wanted out. he wanted to be with you, but he didn’t know how to reach you. he didn’t know what he would say, or how to explain everything he was feeling. fear paralyzed him. the fear of losing your friendship, the fear that everything would be lost once and for all, the fear that if he allowed himself to feel, something would break that couldn’t be fixed.
and every day that passed without him speaking to you, without him having the courage to admit his own feelings, was a day heavier than the last. the pain of not knowing what to do with this love that he barely understood, that mixed with guilt, frustration, and the fear that by saying the right words, he would lose what he valued most in his life. and you… you were there, distant and cold, and he didn’t know how to reach your heart anymore.
but then, deep in his pain, a decision formed. he couldn’t live in this limbo anymore. he couldn’t hide from his own feelings any longer. fear had consumed him for far too long. he needed to expose himself, to be honest with himself and with you. and if you didn’t want him anymore, he would understand. but he needed to try. he needed to know.
you didn’t know what to expect when you saw his message. after so long without hearing anything, the simple fact that he had found a way to communicate again made your heart race, but at the same time, a wave of uncertainty washed over you. what did he want? the message said: “can we talk?” and you didn’t know what to do with that question, with that doubt that was finally manifesting between you two.
when you arrived at his house, the atmosphere was quiet, familiar, but somehow everything felt strange. as if time had stopped there, and what was between you two was no longer the same. he was there, waiting for you, but there was something in his eyes you couldn’t understand. he had a lost look, as if he were fighting something inside himself. that silence, the lack of words between you, made the place feel oppressive, denser than ever. it was almost as if you could feel the weight of the tension in the air.
he watched you for a moment, as if he didn’t know how to start, as if he were preparing himself for something. but he didn’t speak immediately. the silence between you two dragged on, time seemed to stretch, and finally, you were the one who decided to break it.
“you wanted to talk?” your voice came out low, filled with a bitter expectation, as if by saying those words, you were trying to prepare yourself for whatever he was about to say.
finally, he moved, as if lifting a weight off his chest. he looked directly at you, and that’s when you realized he was nervous. “i’m sorry, chérie,” he said, the words coming slowly, as if they were hard to say. “i… don’t know how to reach you, or what to say. i… was scared.”
you looked at him, confused, the knot in your throat tightening. scared? scared of what? “scared of what?” you asked, feeling your heart race. was it fear, or an excuse? what was he really saying?
he closed his eyes, his expression of pain becoming even more visible, as if he had to force himself to face the truth. “scared of losing you. scared that everything between us would change. scared that if i let my feelings take over, i’d ruin everything. i didn’t know how… didn’t know how to deal with it.”
you stayed silent for a moment, the air between you heavy, tense. you couldn’t process his words properly, didn’t know what to do with everything you were hearing. but then, he moved closer, almost without thinking, his eyes searching yours as if they were waiting for something, a response, a confirmation.
“i love you.” and those words came out softly, almost whispered, but filled with immense weight, as if he were carrying the world on his shoulders.
you didn’t know what to say. that ‘i love you’ seemed so simple, and yet, so complex. it was everything you had wanted to hear, and at the same time, everything you feared. because for a moment, you didn’t know if it was true. but he was there, saying it, looking into your eyes with such intensity that, despite the doubt, you couldn’t deny what you were feeling.
“i… i love you too, timmy.” those words came out of you without you being able to stop them. relief and pain mixed together, and you felt something break inside you—a barrier, perhaps. something that had closed between you two, now opening up.
and, without another word, he pulled you into a kiss. it wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t pushed by any impulse. it was gentle and full of a tenderness that seemed to have taken years to form. as if, in that moment, time stood still and everything was possible again.
when he pulled away, you were both silent, but in a silence that was no longer uncomfortable. it was a silence filled with something much deeper—a understanding, a peace that you hadn’t experienced before.
you smiled, feeling the lightness spread through your body. “finally,” you murmured, and he laughed, a soft, relieved sound. he hugged you tightly, and in that embrace, everything seemed to fall into place all at once. the fear, the pain, the distance… all of it had disappeared. and what remained was only the truth you had finally shared, something that could not be ignored, something that would be the beginning of something new.
now, you were together, and that was all that mattered.