jake was a ultimate loser. the kind with his nose always buried in a book, not because he loved reading that much, but because it gave him something to do. he wasn’t rude, just quiet in a way that made people overlook him.

it wasn’t like he didn’t want friends. he did. he just didn’t know how to keep them, or maybe he only ever let in the wrong ones. the few people who hovered around him weren’t really friends anyway. just acquaintances. people who forgot his name after the semester changed.

when his birthday rolled around, his mom was over the moon. she baked a box of chocolate chip cookies, wrapped them up in foil with a little sticky note on top: “for jake’s friends :)”. he smiled and thanked her, but he knew he’d probably end up eating them alone anyways. that was the plan.

until you showed up.

you looked a little lost, like you weren’t sure if you should be there. you adjusted the strap of your backpack, sniffling faintly, eyes flickering up to meet his like it took effort.

“happy birthday, jake.”