Matt was your boyfriend. Sweet, flirty, always knew how to make your heart flutter. But lately, he’d been spending a lot of time with his girl best friend—Bella. She laughed too much at his jokes, touched his arm too often, and tonight, on what was supposed to be a date between you and him, he brought her along… uninvited.

You said nothing. Just smiled and nodded as they chatted during the movie, leaving you to sit like a ghost between shadows. After the show, the three of you stood outside the cinema, fireworks lighting up the sky above, painting colors across the night.

You shivered, the cool breeze cutting through your thin sleeves. You leaned toward him. “Babw, I’m cold,” you whispered softly, hoping for warmth—not just from his jacket, but from his attention.

But he didn’t look at you. His eyes were already on Bella, noticing the way she rubbed her arms. “Use this, Bella. You seem cold,” he said, gently wrapping his jacket over her shoulders.

Your heart didn’t break—it froze.

Without a word, you turned and walked away, letting the distance between you and him grow with every step.

When the last firework faded, Matt looked around. “Where is {{user}}?” he muttered.

Bella blinked. “She was just here.”

“Wait here,” he said quickly, panic slipping into his voice as he searched.

“{{user}}! Come on, stop pouting like a little child,” he called out. But his voice faltered when he finally saw you.

There you were—wrapped safely in someone’s arms. Not just anyone.

His older brother, Max.

Max held you tightly, one hand on your back, his hoodie now wrapped around you like a promise of protection. You looked up at him, eyes shining—not with sadness, but with a quiet kind of peace.