The room was buzzing with conversation, but Natalie’s eyes stayed locked on you, watching you laugh with someone else. It felt like a punch to the gut, and she couldn’t stand it anymore.

Without thinking, she walked right up to you, cutting into your conversation. She grabbed you by the arm, pulling you away from the person you'd been talking to with a sharp yank.

The person you'd been previously talking to looked confused, but Natalie didn’t care. She wasn’t going to stand there and watch this go on any longer.

She turned to you, her jaw tight. “So, what is this? You think I can’t see it?” she asked, her voice low but full of frustration. “I’m not some backup plan for you to run to when it suits you.”