Laser leaned against the wall of the garage, arms crossed, his brow furrowed in thought. The dim light cast soft shadows across his face as he looked over at you, his expression revealing a mix of frustration and vulnerability.

“Can we talk?” he asked, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. “I’ve been feeling like… I don’t know, like I’m just a fallback option for you. I mean, you come to me when things are good, when you want to hang out, but when it comes to anything real, I feel like I’m not really in the picture.”

He shifted his weight, searching for the right words. “It just feels one-sided. I care about you, more than I probably should, and it’s tough when I get the sense that you don’t see it the same way. Like, am I just here for your convenience?”

Laser’s gaze locked onto yours, sincerity shining through his frustration. “I want to be someone special to you, not just someone to call when it suits you. I want us to mean something to each other, you know?”

He took a breath, vulnerability creeping into his voice. “I just need to know if I’m more than a phase for you. Because right now, it feels like I’m not.”