Cupid's Arrow - Jay

I don't know how it started, but somewhere along the way, it became blatantly obvious to all of us that Tara and Alex were made for each other. Not in the cheesy, "soulmate" kind of way, but in the perfectly imperfect way where their quirks just clicked.

It was the kind of disaster that worked. They teased each other endlessly, always finding new ways to push each other's buttons. To the casual observer, it might have looked like friendly banter. To us, it was flirting—plain and simple.

The problem? Neither of them had the guts to admit it.

And that's where Sam and I came in, we had been talking about it at length following Taras confession and he somehow thought the same as me, they were a perfect match.

It started as a joke. "What if we just... gave them a little nudge?" Sam had said one day, half-laughing but with that glint in his eye that meant he was already sold on the idea.

I'd raised an eyebrow, but the idea grew on me the more I thought about it. Tara and Alex were both too stubborn to make the first move, and honestly, watching them dance around their feelings was getting exhausting. They needed a push—a well-timed, perfectly executed push.

The plan was simple: set them up for a movie night, make sure it was just the two of them, and let nature take its course. The rest of the group was immediately on board. Eli & Morgan were all too happy to play along, though Morgan warned us not to get too involved. "If this blows up, it's on you two," she'd said, smirking but with just enough seriousness to make me second-guess myself for a moment.

But I was determined. I knew Tara and Alex better than anyone, and we were confident this was the right move, I was pretty sure Alex felt the same way he had all but said it.

The group chat was the first step. I typed out the message in response to Alexs's movie night plans, trying to keep it casual: "me and Sam will be there!"

One by one, the others chimed in with their excuses. Eli claimed he had a family dinner, Morgan said she was stuck babysitting, By the time the dust settled, the only people left were Tara, Alex, Sam, and me.

Tara replied almost immediately: "Oh, bummer! But yeah, I'm still down for a chill night."

I grinned, glancing at Sam, who was already smirking like we'd just pulled off the heist of the century.

Now came the fun part: bowing out at the last minute. About an hour before the movie night was supposed to start, I sent a quick text to the group. "Hey, so sorry, something came up Sam and I can't make it. Rain check?"

I then text tara privately telling her to tell Alex how she felt, I didn't get a response but she had read it.

That night, Sam and I sat on my couch, phones in hand, waiting for updates like two spies monitoring a top-secret mission. "Do you think they've kissed yet?" Sam asked, his voice tinged with amusement as he glanced over at me.

I snorted. "Knowing those two? They've probably spent the last hour arguing over which movie to watch. But who knows—maybe we'll get lucky."

The minutes ticked by, each one feeling longer than the last. Sam fidgeted beside me, his leg bouncing impatiently. I was trying to play it cool, but the truth was, I was just as invested as he was.

And then, finally, my phone buzzed.

I snatched it up, my heart racing as I saw Tara's name pop up on the screen. Her message was short but packed a punch: "So... we kissed. 😊"

For a moment, I just stared at the screen, a huge grin spreading across my face. "They kissed!" I blurted out, holding up my phone so Sam could see.

His eyes widened, and then he let out a triumphant laugh. "Yes! I knew it!"

We both leaned back against the couch, the weight of our successful plan settling over us like a warm blanket. Sam reached over to give me a high five, and I couldn't stop grinning as I thought about Tara's message. She was being subtle—classic Tara—but the smiley face said it all.

"I can't believe it actually worked," Sam said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Do you think they're, like, a thing now? Or was it just a one-time thing?"

I shrugged, though I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. "Knowing them, it'll probably take a few more 'one-time things' before they figure it out. But hey, it's a start."

Sam chuckled, leaning back into the couch cushions. "We're good at this, you know. Maybe we should make this a side hustle—matchmaking for clueless friends."

I laughed, nudging him playfully. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Besides, one successful mission doesn't make us experts."

He tilted his head, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Still, you have to admit—it feels good to have helped"

I nodded, the warmth in my chest spreading as I thought about Tara and Alex. They'd taken the first step, and while there was no guarantee of what would come next, it felt like something had shifted for the better.

As the night wore on, Sam and I continued to speculate about how their evening was going, sharing jokes and half-baked theories about what Tara's next text might say. But deep down, I felt a quiet kind of satisfaction.

Sometimes, all it took was a little nudge—and maybe a couple of meddling friends—to make something great happen.

I shot her a private message, trying not to come off as too eager.

Me: "How's it going? Any details? I need the full scoop."

Her response was quick, and she didn't hold back.

Tara: "We're definitely more than friends now. It just kind of happened, Jay. We were watching the movie, and then it was like everything made sense. So yeah, we kissed."

I could almost feel the warmth in her words. There was no doubt now—they were official.

"Okay, now that we've got them together..." Sam said, grinning like a proud mastermind. "Let's make sure they have an actual date. Maybe a double date?."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well, it's almost Christmas," Sam said, his voice tinged with excitement. "How about we take them to see the Christmas lights in town? And then we'll grab some food at Nando's."

The idea was perfect—festive and casual, with just the right amount of romance to nudge Tara and Alex closer together. I grabbed my phone and texted Tara immediately, laying out the plan. Her reply came back almost instantly, full of enthusiasm. "That sounds amazing!" she said, quickly adding that she'd let Alex know. Within minutes, they were both on board, and the double date was set.

The day of the outing, I could barely sit still. It wasn't just about seeing Tara and Alex finally take that step forward—though that was definitely exciting. It was about the fact that Sam and I had played a part in making it happen. The anticipation buzzed in my chest as I got ready, pulling on my warmest coat and scarf. Outside, the air was crisp, carrying the unmistakable bite of winter.

When we arrived at the town square, the sight took my breath away. Strings of twinkling lights crisscrossed overhead, bathing the streets in a soft, colourful glow. Each tree lining the square shimmered with vibrant ornaments, and in the centre stood an enormous Christmas tree, its branches heavy with golden baubles and silver tinsel. People bustled around us, their laughter and chatter blending with the faint sound of holiday music playing in the background.

Sam's paw found mine as we walked, his grip warm and reassuring in the cold. I glanced over at him, smiling as he gave my fingers a gentle squeeze. "This is going to be a good night," he said, his voice steady but filled with quiet excitement.

Not long after, Tara and Alex arrived. They looked adorable, both bundled up against the chill, their cheeks rosy from the cold. Alex wore his usual jacket, but there was a softness in his expression that hadn't been there before—a kind of quiet awe whenever he looked at Tara. And Tara, glowing as if she'd caught some of the lights' magic, had her eyes locked on Alex in a way that made it clear she felt the same.

Sam nudged me, leaning in close. "Look at them," he whispered, his voice tinged with pride. "I can't believe we actually pulled it off."

I chuckled softly, watching the way Alex held the door open for Tara and how she smiled shyly in return. "It's about time," I said.

We started wandering through the square together, admiring the lights and soaking in the festive atmosphere. Conversation flowed easily, a mix of holiday wishes, silly jokes, and playful banter. Tara and Alex seemed to be in their own little bubble, their hands brushing together every now and then as they walked. It was subtle, but the spark between them was undeniable.

As we passed a hot chocolate stand, Sam suggested we grab some drinks to keep warm. While he and Alex waited in line, Tara sidled up to me, her smile a little nervous but unmistakably happy. "This is... nice," she said softly, her cheeks pinker than usual.

I grinned at her. "Yeah, it is. You two seem happy."

She glanced toward Alex, who was laughing at something Sam said, and her smile grew. "I think we are," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

We all regrouped, steaming cups of hot chocolate in hand, and continued exploring. Every so often, I'd catch Alex sneaking glances at Tara, his expression so full of affection it made my chest ache a little—in the best way.

Eventually, it was time for dinner. We headed to Nando's, squeezing into a booth that felt too small but perfectly cozy. The restaurant was alive with chatter and the scent of spicy chicken, and for once, the noise didn't bother me. It felt good to be surrounded by life and laughter, to be part of something so effortlessly joyful.

We ordered way too much food—peri-peri chicken, fries, garlic bread, and enough sides to feed a small army. Tara and Alex were in their element, swapping stories and teasing each other in that familiar way, but now there was something deeper to it. A quiet intimacy that hadn't been there before.

Alex's hand rested on the table near Tara's, his fingers occasionally brushing hers. Each time, they'd exchange a small, knowing smile, as if sharing a secret, the rest of us weren't privy to. Sam noticed too, nudging me with his elbow. "They're so cute it's almost annoying," he joked, his grin wide.

I laughed, nodding. "It's hard to believe we actually pulled it off. But seeing them like this? Totally worth it."

The conversation turned to holiday plans—family dinners, gift ideas, and New Year's resolutions. It was easy, effortless, the kind of night that felt like it could stretch on forever. But eventually, the food was gone, and the bill was paid, and it was time to head back out into the chilly night.

As we stepped outside, Tara and Alex lingered near the door, standing a little closer than necessary. They were still shy, still figuring it out, but the happiness radiating from them was unmistakable.

Sam's paw slipped into mine again, his touch grounding me as we watched them. "Well," he said, his breath visible in the cold air, "mission accomplished."

I grinned, leaning into him a little. "Yeah. And now we get to enjoy the holidays knowing everything's just... better."

He smiled at me, his eyes warm and full of something I couldn't quite name. "You're pretty good at this, you know. Making things better."

My cheeks flushed, but I didn't look away. "You're not so bad at it yourself."

As we walked away from the square, the lights twinkling behind us and the laughter of our friends still ringing in my ears, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. Things were falling into place, and for once, everything felt exactly as it should.