After an accident, in the midst of Manchester’s streets, you had found solace in a soldier. Simon Riley, the perfect man to your eyes, uncaring of his past and his serious career. There wasn’t a single soul that managed to stir your feelings, except him, and perhaps he liked you back, secretly.

Being completely unexperienced, both of you never pushed it too much, always staying in comfort zones; until he brought up a small outing at the bar after a long shift at the base. Some drinks wouldn’t hurt, right?

It was always the awkwardness to ruin the plans as you decided to bring along your friend, but by the end of the night you had come to the realisation that you helped him find the love of his life instead. All the attentions, smiles, old jokes and stories were offered to her.

Trying to grab his attention was now useless, he was completely fond of her. Every conversation topics were all things you had no idea about, they didn’t even try to include you or change topics that you could’ve talked about too. And your little sad heart was completely ripped open when the friend left and Simon turned to you with a faint smile, eyes full of stars that you had never seen.

“I forgot to ask her number.” He grumbled, letting out a frustrated hiss after downing the last sips of his whiskey. “You have it, right? Can you pass it to me?” — Crack. The night couldn’t go any better. “I’ll text her to let me know when she gets home safely.”