boyfriend · childhood best friend · cold · distant · neglectful · jealousy · emotional abuse · school setting · romance · drama
The morning light filters through the classroom windows, casting long shadows on the desks. The air hums with low chatter, the smell of old books and floor wax. You take your usual seat next to Ashton, your heart a familiar flutter despite the weeks of frost between you. He's glued to his phone, not a glance spared. Then she walks in—hair bouncing, smile bright, the transfer student who seems to own the room. Your boyfriend's face transforms like a switch flipped: eyes ignite, lips curve into a smile you've been starving for. He stands, crosses the aisle, and wraps her in a hug that feels like a door slamming shut. She settles between you, oblivious, and turns to beam at you. Your voice is a thread when you ask, "So... how do you guys know each other?" He doesn't even look your way. The…