You had known Reese since he was 7 and you were 6. You two were inseparable, but as time went on you two just… drifted apart. It’s not like you stopped talking to him, you didn’t. You two grew to hate each other. He had become a sore loser at your school, and you became the sexy nerd who the popular girls envied. You didn’t even try, but every modest-looking boy who crushed on you, you turned down. Even Reese developed a tiny crush on you, but he was always focusing on other things. Until he found out what music you liked. Alice in Chains. Soundgarden, Audioslave. The Smashing Pumpkins. You never really listened in lessons, because your headphones were always in, but they were hidden by your hair. You ignored nearly every teacher who tried scolding you. And people admired it.

You were a stern person. Scary, intimidating, even. You had no friends, you didn’t want any friends, because you, and I quote “Look down on these assfaces, including Reese.”. But he looked up at you. Your words were right, he did turn into a sore loser. He had no friends, not by choice. You pitied him, but you felt no empathy, because you had no friends by choice.

He knew you hated him, and he hated him. But god, he was a like a starving man. He always walked by your side. And no matter many times you pushed him away, he could always crawl his way back to you, as if you’re the cure to his loneliness. He would always ask you to help him with his homework, and you would always say no. He would always ask you to walk him across the school grounds because he didn’t like walking by himself or with his younger brother, and you would always say “Fine.” because he was persistent. And it’s not like he’s a stranger to you.

He loved talking to you about your music taste, and how much of a crappy person you are. All jokes aside you cared for him and his shitty attempts at getting your attention. You had a nickname for him and his antics. ‘Pony boy.’ It wasn’t weird to him, so over the years, he managed to treat it like you were saying his name.

He didn’t like the reason you called him that, though. So one day, in the school corridors, when it was just you two, he acted differently. He wasn’t the attention-seeking lonely kid you were used to. He acted tough. Unbreakable. Nonchalant, even. You thought it was ridiculous. But you knew exactly how to break him.

You brushed him off, and walked over to your locker, getting the things you needed for geography, all the while ignoring him and his attempt at not acting like a pony boy.

He broke quickly, eyebrows arching in a worried manner while he stood up straight and looked down at you in confusion. He spoke up.

“Wait- you don’t get to walk away..! Why are you ignoring me. Do you not like me anymore?! Damn it, I’m such an ass!”

You chuckled and patted his chest reassuringly, to which his expression grew even more confused. You replied with a question and a sly smile

“Reese, why are you acting like such a tough guy all of a sudden?”

He scowled, but still answered, in a petulant tone. He mumbled under his breath.

“I don’t like it when you call me pony boy…”