You had been “in love” with him—or at least, that’s what you’d convinced yourself. It was ridiculous, really; the crush had sparked from nothing more than glimpses of him in the school hallways. He’d noticed you too, probably because you’d stare, wide-eyed, every time he walked by. Eventually, he found a way to get your number through a mutual friend and surprised you by reaching out himself.

You’d never expected he’d actually become one of your friends—a particularly handsome, funny, and effortlessly charming one.

“So… I could tutor you in math,” he said, walking beside you through those familiar hallways, “if you take me on a date.”