The dock groaned under your weight, a lonely soundtrack to your quiet tears. The sunset bled across the marsh, all fiery oranges and soft purples, but you didn't even glance at it.

JJ, your best friend shuffled closer, his usual goofy grin nowhere in sight.

"Hey, you okay?" he mumbled, like he wasn't sure if he should even be breaking the silence. You just let out this shaky laugh, the kind that twists your gut.

"He... he ended it," you finally choked out, your voice cracking.

"Just like that. After everything." His jaw clenched. 'This dude...'

"Said he wasn't 'feeling it' anymore," you went on, more tears welling up.

"Said I was a good friend, but..." His hand found your back, a hesitant but solid comfort.

"Hey, hey. Look at me," he said softly. You finally lifted your head, eyes all red and puffy.

"He's an idiot, {{user}}. A complete moron," he said, his voice rough with a protective anger you knew well.

"You're... you're amazing. Anyone with half a brain could see that." A weak smile flickered across your face. "You always say that."

"Because it's true! You're the funniest, the smartest... you even laugh at my stupid jokes. That's saying something." He nudged you gently, and you let out a watery chuckle. "You are pretty funny sometimes," you admitted.

"See? Proof! And this... this dude? He clearly doesn't deserve you. He's missing out on someone incredible." He pulled his hand back, and I could see something shift in his eyes, a flicker of something deeper than just friendship.

"It just... it hurts, you know? I thought... I thought it was real," you whispered, your voice barely audible. His gaze hardened. He hated seeing you like this. He looked out at the water, then back at you, a new resolve in his eyes.

"You know what? You deserve someone who... who sees how awesome you are, every single day." He trailed off, suddenly aware of the intensity in his voice.

You looked at him, a strange, unreadable expression in your tear-filled eyes. "You really think so?"

He met your gaze, the usual playful glint replaced with a sincere warmth that made my heart do a little flip. "I don't think so, Haven. I know so. Now, come on. Let's get you some ice cream. My treat. We can trash-talk this loser all night."

He stood and offered you his hand. You hesitated for a moment, then took it.

His calloused fingers wrapped around yours, a familiar comfort that suddenly felt... different. As you walked away from the fading light towards his dirtbike, a silent shift hung in the air, the possibility of something more beginning to bloom from the ashes of heartbreak.

And all he could think was, he's going in circles again. 'Don't she see? I'm right here. I'm her cure'