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Zara’s heart raced as she caught the coin in her palm. She opened her hand slowly, revealing the outcome.

‘Is that what I think it is?’ Tess asked.

Zara stared down at the coin, her heart sinking. ‘It’s tails,’ she said, the words coming out flat.

Silence enveloped them, the weight of the decision hanging. Zara looked up at Tess.

‘So that’s it, then?’ Tess asked, her tone wavering.

Zara bit her lip. ‘I guess.’

Tess crossed her arms, her brow furrowing in thought. ‘What if we did a best of three? Just to make sure it’s not a fluke?’

‘Best of three?’ Zara echoed.

‘Yeah,’ Tess said. ‘And if we get tails again, maybe that means something.’

Zara took a deep breath, nodding slowly. ‘Best of three it is, then.’

They flipped the coin again, the anticipation building as it spun in the air and landed in Zara’s palm.

‘Tails again,’ Tess said with a tut.

‘Alright, one more time,’ Zara said.

‘We already lost. Even if we get heads, it was the best of three,’ Tess said with a frown.

Zara did know that, of course. ‘Best of five?’ she suggested.

Tess nodded.

As they flipped the coin once more, the weight of their shared glances became heavier. The coin landed, and Zara braced herself.

‘Tails again!’ Tess exclaimed.

Zara let out a nervous laugh, but it was hollow. ‘What are the odds of that? Three times in a row?’

Tess shook her head. ‘This coin really doesn’t want us to date.’

Zara’s heart sank as she realised she was facing a decision she didn’t want to accept.

‘So, we’re just going to… walk away?’ Zara asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep her tone light.

Tess was still staring at the bastard coin. ‘That’s what we said.’

Zara paused, sitting with the decision. At that moment, the clouds parted. She knew what she felt. She knew what to do. ‘I just realised something.’

Tess frowned. ‘What?’

‘I don’t care what the coin says,’ Zara said, looking at Tess.

‘No?’ Tess asked, one eyebrow lifting. ‘So, you’re going against the coin’s decision?’

Zara felt a flutter in her stomach. It was time to be brave. Be bold. Just as she would in any other situation. ‘I didn’t need the coin. I just… I was scared to make the call myself.’

‘Yeah. Me too,’ Tess confessed.

Zara and Tess looked at each other anxiously.

‘So… what do we do now?’ Zara asked.

‘Let’s be honest with each other. No more games,’ Tess said with a new determination.

Zara nodded, her heart swelling with possibility. ‘I want to try this. You and me. I want us to have a real date.’

Tess looked suddenly frightened, and Zara thought she’d misread Tess. She didn’t want this at all. She was looking for a way out. It was a physical blip to her.

But then Tess smiled and said, ‘I want that, too.’

As they shared a tentative smile, the uncertainty that had clouded the moment began to dissipate.

They were ready to take the leap—coin or no coin—and go wherever their strange chemistry was going to take them.