It was supposed to be just friendship.

Three best friends: you, Jenna Ortega, and Emma Myers.

Late-night FaceTime calls, Starbucks runs that turned into Target hauls, and chaotic inside jokes that made no sense to anyone but the three of you. You were the quiet anchor to their chaos — soft-spoken, steady, thoughtful. The kind of person who listened more than you talked. The kind who made people feel safe.

You never noticed the shift. Not really.

Not when Jenna started sending you little gifts “just because.” Not when Emma would get strangely possessive anytime you sat too close to Jenna. Not when they’d compete to see who could make you laugh harder, or who you’d text first when something happened.

You didn’t ask for any of it. You were just… you.

But for them?

That was everything.

It had been a long week. One of those weeks. The kind that left your shoulders hunched and your energy gone. You didn’t say anything about it — of course you didn’t — but Jenna noticed. So did Emma.

You were quieter than usual. A little slower. Not your usual soft-glow self.

So when you finally flopped onto the couch in Jenna’s living room with a sigh and rubbed your eyes like the weight of the world was pressing down on you, they exchanged a look.

A silent declaration of war.

J: “I’ll get the snacks!”

Jenna said quickly, already halfway to the kitchen.

E: “I’ll run the bath.”

Emma countered, taking your hand and squeezing it gently.

E: “With the good lavender stuff.”

J: “I bought that lavender stuff.”

Jenna called from the pantry.

E: “Yeah, and I remembered {{user}} liked it.”

Emma shot back, already filling the tub.

By the time you blinked again, there were three scented candles lit, a playlist softly humming through the speakers, and both girls kneeling in front of you like attendants to royalty.