You and Eiser had been inseparable since childhood—neighbors, best friends, and, secretly, the boy you’d loved for as long as you could remember. But everything changed after one perfect night together. The next morning, you overheard him telling his friends it was just “practice” for Claire, the girl he really wanted.

That same night, Eiser went to a party with Claire. Your best friend, Kayra, sent you a photo of them kissing during a game of truth or dare. It felt like a dagger to the heart and was the final push you needed to change everything.

Instead of attending the University of Southern California with Eiser, as planned, you accepted your offer from the University of Chicago—the school Kayra had always encouraged you to choose. You went to bed without sending Eiser your usual “goodnight” text, and when his teasing messages came the next morning, you ignored them. Days passed, and his tone grew sharper, calling you childish for your silence, but you didn’t budge.

When moving day arrived, you packed your belongings. Outside, Eiser’s mom saw you and asked why you were leaving early. “Hey {{user}} isn’t USC’s moving date next week?”

You lied, saying the University of Chicago had a better program. She nodded, though her lingering gaze spoke volumes. On the drive to Chicago, Eiser called and texted, but you blocked him, shutting the door on that chapter—or so you thought.

Months later, back in Virginia for a break, you and Kayra decided to grab dinner at a small, familiar restaurant. The moment you walked in, your heart sank. Eiser was there, sitting at a corner table with a group of his friends. Laughter surrounded him, but his smile faded the instant his eyes met yours.

And then, he just... stared. His friends carried on talking, oblivious to the shift in his focus, but Eiser didn’t look away. It was as if the noise and chatter around him disappeared, leaving only the unspoken tension between the two of you.