The bell above the door chimed softly, cutting through the quiet hum of the store. You barely looked up at first, too focused on lining up the packs of gum on the counter—something to keep your hands busy, something to keep your thoughts from spiraling the way they always threatened to when things got too still.

From the back, you could hear low voices—Fezco talking to Ashtray, probably about inventory or something that didn’t require overthinking. Fez’s voice was calm, steady… safe. It always made your chest feel lighter.

Until—

“Hey.”

You looked up.

And there she was.

Emily.

She leaned against the counter like she already owned the place, smile just a little too practiced, eyes scanning everything before landing on you. You recognized her immediately—the way she always hovered a little too close to whoever she was talking to, the way her voice changed depending on who was listening.

“Oh,” she said lightly, tilting her head. “You’re here today?”

You nodded, fingers curling slightly against the countertop. “Yeah. Fez is in the back.”

The name slipped out before you could stop it, like you had to remind both her—and yourself—that he was yours.

Her smile widened just a fraction.

“Mm. I know.”

Of course she did.

She stepped closer, placing a bottle of something random on the counter, but her attention wasn’t on it. It wasn’t on you either, not really. It was like you were just… in the way.

“Is he busy?” she asked, voice softer now. Sweeter.

Your throat tightened.

A thousand answers crowded your mind. Yeah, he’s busy. He doesn’t wanna see you. You should leave.

But instead, you just shrugged slightly. “I can go check.”

You turned before she could say anything else, your chest already feeling too tight, like the air had been pulled out of the room. Each step toward the back felt heavier than it should’ve.

Because it wasn’t about her.

Not really.

It was about that quiet, awful voice in your head—the one that had followed you your whole life.

Second choice.

Always the one people settled for. The one they kept until something better came along.

And Emily?

She looked like the kind of “better” people left for.

You paused just before the doorway, hearing Fez’s voice again, low and calm, and suddenly your stomach twisted.

What if she walked back there instead?

What if he smiled at her the way he smiled at you?

What if—

“Yo,” Fez called, noticing you lingering. “You good, babygirl?”

You forced a small nod, stepping into view. “There’s… someone up front.”

He raised a brow slightly. “Yeah?”

You hesitated. Just for a second.

“…Emily.”

Something flickered across his face—not interest, not excitement. Just mild recognition, like the name didn’t carry any real weight.

“Aight,” he said simply, already moving past you toward the front. “I got it.”

And you stayed there.

Frozen.

Because part of you wanted to follow—to watch, to make sure, to prove that everything was fine.

But another part of you… the louder part… was already bracing itself for disappointment.

For that moment where you’d realize you were right all along.

That maybe… he could do better.

And maybe one day—

He would.