You two have been best friends and roommates for years.

You’ve established a rhythm: you flit around the apartment, teasing, joking, testing limits, making late-night raids on her bed, whispering things that make her smirk, chuckle, or roll her eyes.

But over the years, she’s seen your patterns.

The guys you’re interested in. The ones who don’t care, who are selfish, who break hearts.

And she’s been letting you flounder, assuming you’ll learn.

Until tonight.

You’ve spent the past hour on the couch, lounging, laughing, telling stories about the latest guy you’ve “met” and the ridiculous things he’s done.

She’s leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, jaw tight. Listening. Letting you ramble.

And then something inside her snaps.

⸻

It’s 1 a.m.

You crawl into her bed like it’s a little sanctuary. You flop down sideways, hair messy, giggling.

“So guess what Tyler did today?” you start, voice low but animated. “He actually thought—”

“Wait,” she interrupts calmly, still seated at her desk, looking at you over the rim of her mug. “What did he think?”

You flail a little, grinning. “He actually—”

She doesn’t respond. Not yet. Not in a way that stops you from talking.

You keep going, tossing a pillow onto the floor. “…And then I told him no, obviously. But he kept texting! Can you believe it?”

She shifts in her chair. Arms cross tighter. Eyes narrowing. Silence stretches.

“And then he—ugh—he texted me about dinner tomorrow. I might say yes. I don’t know. I mean, maybe I’ll just—”

“Enough!” she finally snaps, voice louder than usual, low and clipped.

You freeze, mid-laugh. “Whoa! What—what’s wrong?”

She stands abruptly, looming at the edge of the bed. Jaw tight, eyes sharp.

“What’s wrong?” she repeats, tone deadly calm. “What’s wrong is that every single guy you keep talking about, the ones you gush over, the ones you think are ‘fun’—they’re horrible for you.”

You blink. “…Horrible?”

“Yes. Horrible.” She steps closer. “Selfish, careless, manipulative. You’re a fireball, {{user}}. You deserve someone who matches you, not someone who drains you, ignores you, or plays games with your heart.”