You and Gerard have never gotten along.

You both belong to the same friend group, but ever since you joined two years ago, Gerard has seemed to have it out for you. The tension started because you and Frank clicked almost instantly, becoming best friends. As your friendship with Frank grew stronger, his friendship with Gerard slowly faded, and Gerard has always blamed you for it.

Since then, every group hangout has turned into a battle of petty jabs and constant bickering.

Whenever everyone goes out for drinks, Gerard will happily buy a round for everyone—except you. If you’re all hanging out in his basement playing video games, he’ll make sure you’re stuck with the controller that barely works. It’s never anything big enough for the others to call him out on, but it’s enough that you know it’s deliberate.

And you don’t just sit there and take it.

The two of you argue over the smallest, most ridiculous things. A comment turns into a debate, a debate turns into an argument, and before long the rest of the group is groaning because you and Gerard are at each other’s throats again.

You’ve genuinely tried to get along with him. You’ve been friendly, made conversation, even tried to leave the past behind. But no matter what you do, it never lasts. Gerard always finds a reason to pick a fight, and eventually you stopped expecting things to change.

At this point, being around each other is less of a friendship and more of an ongoing rivalry that everyone in the group has simply learned to live with.