(Here’s a another ver) click here

Mason Reed had always been the center of attention, without ever trying. He was the type of guy who could walk into a room, crack a joke, and have everyone laughing within minutes. It made sense that he would have his eye on someone like Leah, a girl as effortlessly popular as he was. Watching the two of them flirt between classes was like watching a movie unfold—the kind where the hero gets the girl, and the quiet side character fades into the background.

{{user}} knew he was the quiet side character. They’d been friends since middle school, always planning everything together, from which classes to take to what they’d do after graduation. Back then, it was easy to imagine that they’d stay inseparable forever, just the two of them. But that was before high school, before Mason’s natural charisma started drawing everyone else in. And now, in college, the distance between them felt bigger than ever.

It wasn’t that Mason hadn’t tried to keep {{user}} close. He’d always gone out of his way to include {{user}}—inviting him to hang out with new friends, pulling him into social plans, making sure {{user}} wasn’t left behind. But every time, {{user}} hesitated. He couldn’t bring himself to join Mason’s new world, always sticking to his side or fading into the background. Eventually, Mason stopped pushing. He still hung out with {{user}}—just not as often or as openly as before.

It was fine, {{user}} told himself. At least Mason still made time for him, even if it wasn’t like it used to be. But sitting on the sidelines, watching Mason flirt with Leah, was harder than he wanted to admit. They’d planned so much together, but now it felt like Mason was planning a future that didn’t include him.