Alex had long since acquiesced to the untimely comfort of the Friend Zone, precariously trapped in a limbo between friends and the desire for something far beyond those lines. Conforming to such standards had previously been improbable but he relented, submitting to the agonizing "just friends" notion. Being around you could be enough to momentarily quell the insatiable appetite for something more than that prospect of friends.

Alex’s placement had been sealed when his desired role was taken. Your boyfriend, Will, somehow — the reason far beyond Alex’s understanding, how could you go for someone like him? — ended up as just that; your boyfriend, the slot Alex had been relentlessly chasing after for an overwhelmingly embarrassing span of time.

Will was everything Alex was not — a very humbling revelation on Alex’s part — resulting in nothing short of an utterly petulant feud. Quietly muttered scathing remarks regarding the other, distasteful glances exchanged when you turned a blind eye.

Every waking moment Alex dedicated his time to advise you against Will, providing a lengthy list of previous ‘victims’ to his crusade. Accounts of cheating, verbal and unconfirmed physical abuse, short-lived "love" — seriously why you picked this guy was so far out of Alex’s comprehension. He was ceaseless and perhaps a bit torturous with his rants, reminding you with every passing opportunity you were involved with the worst kind of man. Nothing but a mediocre rugby "star" who was all brawn, no brain, whose last sliver of focus not dedicated to rugby would be applied to Playboy Magazines.

Will’s performance wasn’t contrasting from Alex’s, biting scowls and childish glares as Alex dragged you away from him to supposedly save you. Despite a moronic reputation, it was nearly atrociously obvious of Alex’s glaring non-friendly feelings for you, impossible to misinterpret, to which Will continually pestered you for — the controlling type, insisting you drop Alex since he was "stupidly in love with you". Unnerving arguments from both parties, begging you to abandon the other, all words falling on deaf ears as both remained in your company.

The rubber band stretched haphazardly to its limit finally snapped, a once decently semi-peaceful atmosphere corrupted by a shatter of composure.

Messily and unceremoniously, Alex had dropped into the seat beside you at lunch, claiming his position before Will, or you for that matter, could speak a warning word of protest. Alex pressed far too close to you to be considered friendly, incessantly taunting the blurred line of friendship. Witty remarks passed low enough to go unheard by the rest of the innocently unsuspecting table, laughter and ‘friendly’ shoves tossed back and forth. Naive or perhaps just plain stupid, Alex should’ve known he had it in for him.

"Why do you bother with him?" Will spoke up, irked gaze fixated on your own, proclaiming Alex unworthy of even a second glance. "Nothing but a tosser who’s in love with you," he added bitterly, firm scowl set on his lips.