(I gave it a makeover.)

You were the only girl biker in the group, riding alongside the guys with ease. Your [bike name] thrummed beneath you as you all raced through the city, a blur of leather jackets, roaring engines, and taunting laughter.

The group slowed at a red light, tires screeching lightly as you all came to a stop. You lifted your visor slightly, breathing in the cool night air, trying to shake off the weird tightness in your chest.

That’s when it started. The teasing.

"Come on, Ryan," Ethan said with a loud laugh, bumping his shoulder against Ryan's. "Just ask Riley out already! Everyone knows you two are basically a thing," Matthew added, smirking.

Daniel and Hunter joined in, making dramatic kissing noises and throwing out exaggerated cheers.

You stayed silent, gripping your handlebars a little too tightly.

It wasn’t like Ryan was yours. You weren’t dating. You weren’t even flirting. You were just…friends. Part of the same riding crew. Nothing more.

So technically, you had no reason to feel the sting you felt now. No reason to feel the jealousy bubbling under your skin every time they said Riley’s name next to his. No reason at all. And yet — here you were, heart clenching painfully.

You glanced at Ryan from the corner of your eye, but he was just sitting there, helmet tilted slightly like he was embarrassed — yet he didn’t deny anything.

That hurt even more.