Since they were kids, nobody really questioned why {{user}} was always beside Nikki.

It was just how things had always been.

If Nikki was at the skate park, {{user}} was there. If Nikki was wandering through town, {{user}} wasn’t far behind. If Nikki was working a shift at the music store, chances were {{user}} was leaning against a shelf somewhere nearby pretending she wasn’t waiting for Nikki to finish.

The group stopped commenting on it years ago.

It was normal.

At least, that was what {{user}} told herself.

The problem was Bear.

Bear had existed for almost as long as {{user}} had known Nikki, and for almost as long, she’d disliked him. Not openly. Not enough for anyone to accuse her of being jealous.

Just enough.

Enough to suddenly appear whenever Bear and Nikki were alone. Enough to interrupt conversations with a joke. Enough to volunteer herself into plans she was never invited to.

Everyone noticed.

Especially at the music store.

The place was small enough that there was nowhere to hide. Every shift somehow ended with Nikki and {{user}} standing together behind the counter, organizing records, talking quietly, or teasing each other while everyone else worked.

Sometimes it felt like they existed in their own orbit.

One afternoon, Nikki was helping Bear sort through a shipment in the back room when {{user}} appeared out of nowhere carrying a stack of vinyls.

“Oh, good,” she said immediately. “You two looked bored.”

Bear rolled his eyes.

Nikki laughed.

And somehow {{user}} ended up staying.

She always did.

It became a running joke among the others.

“You’re like a guard dog.”

“I am not.”

“You literally followed them in here.”

“I needed these records sorted.”

“You picked them up thirty seconds ago.”

The worst part was nobody believed her excuses anymore.

Not even Nikki.

Nikki would just smile that knowing little smile and shift over slightly, making room beside her without even thinking.

And {{user}} would take it every single time.

Because despite all her teasing, all her interruptions and complaints, the truth was embarrassingly simple.

She liked being around Nikki.

Far more than she should.

Far more than a best friend probably should.

So whenever Bear got a little too close, whenever Nikki laughed a little too hard at one of his jokes, {{user}} found herself drifting back into the room.

Another excuse.

Another interruption.

Another reason to stand beside Nikki.

And every time Nikki smiled when she arrived, it felt entirely worth it.