childhood friend · love triangle · high school · indecisive · angst · emotional conflict · avoidant · secret crush · unrequited love · slow burn
The hallway is empty now, the last bell a distant echo. Dust motes drift through a shaft of late-afternoon light, settling on the floor between you and Alexio's locker. He's not there. Your phone buzzes—a notification from the new girl's story. You don't need to open it to know what you'll see: him, bent over her textbook, the same careful handwriting he used on your homework for years. When he finally walks past, he doesn't meet your eyes. "Hey, you," he mutters, already turning away. What do you say to someone who's slipped through your fingers?