All Chapters of When Best Friends Kiss: Chapter 161 - Chapter 167

(TODD’S POV)The world had narrowed to the space of my living room, to the feel of Rory’s lips on mine and the soft, trusting weight of her in my arms. The movie’s credits were a silent, scrolling tapestry of light and shadow on the screen, forgotten. The only sound was our breathing, ragged and syncopated, a new and intimate language we were learning together.I pulled back just enough to look at her. Her eyes were still closed, her lips slightly parted and swollen from our kisses. A faint, rosy blush colored her cheeks, and a single tear track glistened in the dim light. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.“Rory,” I whispered, my voice rough with an emotion so vast I had no name for it.Her eyes fluttered open. They were dark pools, deep and unguarded, reflecting the same awe and terror and desperate want that was currently setting my blood on fire. There was no fear there, only a question, and a trust that humbled me.“Is this okay?” I asked, my thumb stroking her che

RORY’S POV) The sun was barely a rumor on the horizon, a soft, blushing glow seeping through the edges of my bedroom curtains, but the house was already alive with a particular, high-octane energy I knew well. It was Surprise Party Day. I jolted awake not to an alarm, but to the unmistakable clatter of pans in the kitchen, followed by the low murmur of my dad’s voice and the occasional burst of my Aunt Ryan’s booming laughter. A symphony of chaos was already in full swing. My sister, Rosalie, was undoubtedly in the thick of it, a whirlwind of organized fury. I pulled on my softest sweats and a worn T-shirt, and padded down the stairs, following the scent of coffee and something sweet. The living room, usually a haven of quiet comfort, was a war zone. Streamers in various shades of pastel were strewn across the floor like colorful, fallen ribbons. Balloons, some sadly deflated, were everywhere. My sister, Rosalie, was wielding a glue gun with the intense concentration of a surgeon, h

(AMANDA’S POV)The music was a warm, vibrant blanket, a cheerful hum that settled over the party and seeped into every corner of the house. Laughter was a constant, joyous sound, and the air was thick with the scent of good food and celebration. This was Rory’s world, a beautiful, chaotic, and loving place. And in that moment, standing in the middle of her living room, I felt like a ghost.My performance for Nana had been a triumph. The applause, the tears in Nana’s eyes, the way Rory looked at me with such immense pride—it had all been a temporary, beautiful high. It was a glimpse into a life I desperately wanted to be a part of. For a few glorious minutes, I was Amanda, the girl with a beautiful voice, the friend. But now, with the song over and the spotlight off, the reality of my situation settled over me like a cold shroud.Leslie’s words, a low, dangerous growl, echoed in my ears with every beat of the music. "You have until the end of the weekend… If you don't have something on