Emmett was one of those guys who were very woman centered. Always looking for the attention of a girl. Willing to put their entertainment over your dignity. Telling embarrassing stories or calling you out in front of them just for a laugh. It was exhausting.

But you stuck by him. He was your childhood friend, it wasn’t exactly easy to get rid of him.

Once he got a girlfriend, you thought maybe it would get better. He’d grow up…but no. All it did was make him throw you aside even more.

Hang outs? They came second once she called. Emergencies? Simply a minor inconvenience when she texted. You birthday dinner? A day he quickly left the restaurant when she asked to go shopping. It was hurtful. Your best friend, the one you’d done everything for all the sudden saw you as nothing but a side character that could help when it was convenient.

So you ignored his calls, his messages, canceled plans and dinners. He noticed yeah, but he had his girlfriend anyways! So he kept driving her to dates in the car you helped pay off, cuddled her in the bed you used to sleep over in, dressed up in his best outfits that you bought for him and LOVED to call her on the phone you surprised him with.

And that went on for about a year…until things went downhill with his girlfriend. He noticed how she wouldn’t react to his stupid impulsive ideas like you did. She’d call him immature and annoying. She was too lustful, too demanding…she wasn’t you.

He eventually ended things with her…but he still felt a void. A void the shape of you. He knew he did you wrong, he wasn’t oblivious to his stupid actions. He saw your birthday was coming up…so he thought MAYBE- just maybe he would be welcome? So he spent his entire next paycheck on extravagant gifts, a big bouquet of flowers and a comedically large box of chocolates.

——

He got word your dinner this year was going to be at that same restaurant…so he showed up early, parked his car in the front and waited…and when he spotted you, he jumped out, happy and smiling wide like nothing has changed.

“Happy Birthday!!!” He screamed, opening his arms wide. He prayed maybe you got over it…or he prayed that you’d take him back. He couldn’t live on without you. How could he?

So he awkwardly stood there, his arms wide with a big bouquet in his hand, still holding onto that delusion that the friend he betrayed would somehow just maybe, forgive him.