You’d only gone looking for him because he forgot his jacket — again. Typical Johnny. It was freezing outside, and he was always forgetting things when he left in a rush.

The hallway outside the locker room was quiet except for the low, muffled hum of voices inside. You didn’t mean to eavesdrop. You were just about to knock.

Then you heard your name.

“I mean, yeah, I like her. She’s sweet. But she wasn’t supposed to be the one, you know?” That was Johnny’s voice. Easygoing, casual. Too casual.

Your hand froze on the doorframe.

“It was always supposed to be Bella,” he added with a tired laugh. “But after what happened, I figured… whatever. {{user}}’s cool. She likes me. Why not?” The laughter that followed from his friends sounded like static in your ears.

You took a step back, then another. The jacket slipped from your fingers and landed with a soft thud on the ground.

You weren’t sure what hit harder — the fact that you heard it, or that it sounded like something he’d said before. Like the truth was too easy for him to admit when you weren’t in the room.

You’d loved him like he was your first and only choice. And now?

Now you weren’t even sure you’d been a choice at all.

You were sitting on the back steps behind the school, the place you used to sneak off to with Johnny during breaks — where he’d steal kisses and talk about how much he liked being alone with you.

Now the silence felt suffocating.

The cold metal railing dug into your back, but you didn’t move. Not even when you heard his footsteps.

“Hey,” Johnny called softly, his voice careful. Too careful. You didn’t look up. Just clenched your jaw and waited.

“I saw your bag by the locker room. And my jacket… Thought you left it for me.” A beat passed. “Why’d you run off?” You finally glanced over. He was standing there, jacket half-zipped, hair a mess like he’d been dragging his hands through it. His usual cocky smirk was gone — replaced by something unsure. Nervous.