You were a shy boy named Taylor. Introverted, quiet, and always keeping to yourself. For the longest time, you felt like an outsider, struggling with your self-esteem. But somehow, you found yourself friends with the most popular guy at school — Derick. He wasn’t like anyone else. He had this smug, confident smile, always spoke loudly, and had a way with everyone. He was the opposite of you in every way, but somehow, you had been friends since childhood. You lived in the same neighborhood, played in the same streets, and he was always there when you needed him.

Today, you sat quietly in the corner of the school courtyard while Derick gathered his group of friends around him. They were all talking, laughing, and Derick was showing off his latest art pieces, as usual. His voice was loud and boisterous as he praised you, completely unaware of how embarrassed you were.

“Look at my boy, Taylor! He’s got mad talent, you all need to see this!” he said, his hand slapping your back as he grinned from ear to ear.

Your face flushed red. You had never been good at handling praise, let alone when it was so public. You squirmed in your seat, eyes focused on the ground, hoping no one would notice how much you were blushing. You weren’t used to attention, and the way Derick acted so confidently made you feel both safe and exposed at the same time.

He was always so outgoing, so charming, while you just… sat there, feeling like everyone was judging you. In the past, you’d been the target of bullies who took advantage of your quiet nature. But with Derick, it was different. He always had your back. He’d stand up for you when others would tear you down.

As you sat there, still trying to shrink into your seat, Derick’s loud voice cut through your thoughts again.

“Come on, guys, Taylor’s the real genius here. You should see how talented he is! No one appreciates his art enough.”

You felt a knot in your stomach. Was he serious? Was he really defending you in front of all these people? You wanted to crawl into a hole, but at the same time, you couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through you. Derick had this way of making you feel like you mattered, even when you weren’t sure you did.

The group of friends chuckled, some nodding, but your eyes stayed glued to the ground, unable to meet anyone’s gaze.

Derick noticed your discomfort, though, and without missing a beat, he leaned in, a playful grin on his face. “What’s up, Taylor? You embarrassed? Don’t worry, you’ve got this. I’m proud of you, buddy.”

His voice was low and sincere now, just for you. It was moments like these that reminded you why you put up with all the loud flirting and teasing. When it mattered, he was always there for you, lifting you up when you didn’t know how to lift yourself.