My eyes well up, and I force myself not to break down. I don’t want Selena to see me like this. In fact, I don’t want anyone to.

  A few hours earlier, I saw Emily talking to Oliver. He was sitting at his desk, going through his phone, when she appeared out of nowhere. She leaned forward, both hands gripping the desk, giggling and whispering to him. He set his phone aside and hunched forward, chin on his folded hands, matching her playful attention as she flirted. I remember thinking, why does he seem as into her as she is into him? At first, I told myself it was nothing, but harmless small talk between friends. But the more I replay it, the more it all adds up. Every chance she gets, she sticks close to him. Her face lights up whenever someone says his name. The way she sits too near, the way she watches him, the shy smile that replaces her usual boldness when she talks to him..., it’s obvious. She’s into him.

  The silence between Selena and me stretches, growing awkward. Her sympathetic hand on mine only makes it worse. Though I never admitted my crush on her brother, I’m sure she can tell how I feel about him. It must have been written all over me, in my face, my glance, and my gestures. The way we both behaved at her house the other day must have made it obvious. I wish I’d never gone there that day, and that none of it had ever happened.

  Her grip tightens slightly on my arm, pulling me out of my thoughts. I want to make everything seem normal, to look unaffected by what she said. I take a breath and force a smile onto my face. “Well, that’s new.”

  “I’m really sorry,” Selena says quietly. She leans in, lowering her voice. No matter how carefully I hide my feelings, her words are as full of sympathy as her touch, as if she can sense the pieces of me falling apart inside. “Emily’s my best friend, but honestly, I wish he’d picked you. You’re smart. You’re beautiful. You actually seem like his type.” She hesitates, then adds, “Emily’s kind of plain for someone like Oliver. You and he would’ve looked good together. But I guess that’s not what he wants.”

  'That’s not what he wants,' her words echo in my mind.

  It hurts.

  It wouldn’t have hurt this much if he hadn’t showered me with so much attention over the last two days.

  It wouldn’t have hurt this much if he hadn’t made me believe he’d had a crush on me, like I had on him, since our first interaction.

  It wouldn’t have hurt this much if he hadn’t kissed me.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  That kiss felt like the opening of a new chapter in my world. In a single day, I built an entire life around it. A future with him, with our children, a girl and a boy. I even gave them names, Jasper and Violet, as if they had already existed somewhere, waiting for me to find them. I imagined the home we would live in, a small country house perched on a slanted hill, washed in warm sunlight and surrounded by endless fields. I could see us there, dancing with the kids, just the four of us, with no audience except the sky, the sun, and the quiet presence of the farm and its animals. I lived inside that world, over and over, replaying every version of what could have been, every detail feeling real enough to touch. And now, in a single moment, it has all disappeared.

  Selena already seems to know what’s going on inside me, but I can’t let anyone else find out. Least of all Emily. She’s part of the group that already looks down on me, already watches for any reason to laugh. If they find out how easily I fell for his tricks, I’ll be their joke forever.

  “Did you tell Emily about Oliver and me?” I ask, keeping my voice steady.

  “No, of course not,” Selena says quickly. “I’d never do that. I’m not about to break her heart. She’s still my friend.”

  “Please keep this between us,” I say, my voice barely holding.

  Selena nods. “You don’t need to tell me that. I won’t say a word. I’m not going to make you look like an idiot in front of everyone.”

  That makes it clear. Even she thinks I’m a fool for falling for him.

  She takes a breath before continuing. “But you have to promise not to tell Oliver I said anything. It would cause problems at home. He’s not the person you see outside. He can cause real trouble. You understand, right?”

  No, I don’t understand. What does she mean by saying he’s not the person you see outside? Does that mean he’s bad, not nice or spoiled? I want to clarify, but what’s the point? He’s never going to be mine, so whatever he’s like isn’t my concern.

  “I do. I won’t say anything. I promise.”

  She gives me a loose hug and walks away, looking satisfied.

  I don’t see Oliver after lunch. His backpack is gone, so I assume he’s already left. I don’t know if he’ll still show up at 3.30 at our secret place as we planned. Maybe he will. Maybe he won’t. Maybe Selena’s warning scared him off. Maybe he realized that being close to Selena means I’ll eventually find out about everything.

  Or maybe he’ll show up as if nothing happened.

  I don’t even know if I should go. What I do know is that I don’t deserve this. I don’t want to be caught in a love triangle. Except this isn’t even that. He’s in love with Emily, and I’m just a distraction. Something temporary.

  Maybe it’s time I tell him I’m done playing along. Make him understand I’m not someone he gets to toy with. If nothing else, maybe it stops him from doing this to someone else.

  I don’t have to think much to make the decision. After school, my legs seem to lead me on their own to my secret place.

  I check my phone, half expecting a message like yesterday. Some excuse. Nothing.

  3.30 comes and goes.

  I keep checking the time, impatience growing with every minute. I pace along the track, glancing down the path he’d take if he were coming.

  But he never shows up.