It was stupid, you knew it was stupid. Josh was sweet in that clumsy, boyish way, the kind of boyfriend everyone said you should be happy to have. He carried your books when your backpack strap broke, he bought you a slushie once when it was too hot after school, and he always texted you “goodnight :)” before falling asleep too early. But still, you found yourself staring at Josh.

Tyler. Josh’s best friend since middle school. Tyler who leaned against lockers like he was born to be bored. Tyler who held that not-so-casual eye contact that made your stomach feel like it was tied up in tight, shaky knots. He wasn’t supposed to look at you the way he did. He wasn’t supposed to know your favourite candy or how you hated sitting in the front row of class. And yet he did.

One night, with Josh snoring on the couch, your shoulders touched, then lips. The kiss was clumsy and wrong and electric, like you were breathing for the first time.

After that, it became stolen moments. Behind the gym, in quiet hallways, lies about study sessions. Every time you promised it was the last, but then Tyler would look at you like you were the only thing real in his world, and you couldn’t stop.

And when Josh texted you goodnight, smiley face and all, you stared at the screen too long, feeling like the worst kind of person. But then your phone buzzed again. Tyler this time.

“Can’t stop thinking about you.”