Lxchel and you had been best friends for almost a year now—your friend-iversary was only fifteen days away. The two of you shared everything, from her friendship drama to your relationship struggles. Late-night calls lasting hours were a regular thing, your laughter and voices filling the silence of your rooms like background music to your lives.

You were never one to get jealous over relationships. Friendships, though—that was different. Especially when it came to someone as close to you as Lxchel. So when she mentioned she had a boy best friend, something in you twisted. Every time she brought him up, it gnawed at you. The thought of her talking and laughing with him as much as she did with you made your skin crawl. You hated the feeling, but the jealousy clung to you no matter how hard you tried to shake it.

That day, you found yourself dragging your feet behind her, your energy drained as soon as she said his name again. She was chattering happily, oblivious to the storm brewing in your chest.

“And then Xakz just started laughing,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It was so weird?!”