The first time Mira mentioned Michael, something subtle shifted between them, though neither of the girls noticed it then.
They were seated on a worn-out picnic mat behind the science block, an old routine from their high school days. The sun filtered through the jacaranda trees above, speckling their skin in lavender-tinted shadows. Mira's voice, bright and animated, filled the space between them.
"Michael left a note in my locker yesterday. Can you imagine?" She paused, grinning as she twisted her braids into a loose bun. "It said, 'See you in every dream.' Like, who even says stuff like that anymore?"
Jace let out a soft laugh—just enough to keep the mood light. She reached down to pluck a blade of grass, fingers working it between her nails. "He sounds like a poet."
"He's worse," Mira said, her eyes shining. "He's a dream wrapped in human skin."
Jace smiled. Mira always had a flair for the dramatic. They both did, in different ways. In high school, they were the pair everyone noticed—two pretty girls with good hair, good grades, and the kind of friendship that felt bulletproof. Mira had always been the louder one, the bolder one, the one who led.
And Jace had always followed—willingly.
But something about the way Mira said Michael's name lodged in Jace's mind like a splinter. It wasn't jealousy. Not yet. Just… curiosity. A name that seemed to hum in the air, echoing a little too long in the silence that followed.
Mira lay back on the mat, one arm shielding her eyes from the sun. "He's different, Jace. Not like the others. He listens. He remembers the smallest things I say, like how I once mentioned I liked jasmine tea, and now it just appears every time we hang out."
Jace nodded, keeping her gaze on the sky instead of Mira. "That's sweet."
"Right? And he doesn't care that I'm a little too much sometimes. He likes that about me. Says I'm—what was the word he used? Oh—'electric.'" Mira grinned, turning her head toward Jace. "Isn't that crazy?"
It wasn't crazy. Michael sounded like the kind of guy girls dreamed of. Jace had read enough books to recognize the type: attentive, romantic, the kind who left notes and remembered tea preferences. The kind who belonged to someone else.
"You deserve someone like that," Jace said. And she meant it. Mostly.
Mira sat up, brushing crumbs off her jeans. "You know, you never talk about your love life anymore. What's going on with that?"
Jace shrugged. "There's not much to talk about."
"That's not fair," Mira frowned. "You're gorgeous. Like, seriously—if I weren't dating Michael, I'd be trying to set you up with half the campus."
Jace gave a small smile. "Maybe I'm just... waiting."
"For who?" Mira teased. "Your soulmate in shining armor?"
Jace didn't answer. Not out loud. Instead, she plucked another blade of grass and focused on splitting it down the middle, the way she used to when she was nervous. Or hiding something.
"Okay," Mira said with a playful groan, falling back again. "When you finally fall in love, promise you'll tell me first."
Jace swallowed. "Promise."
But even as she said it, something in her gut twisted. Because a small, unspoken truth had already taken root—and she wasn't sure if she could pull it out.
As they packed up their things, the school bell rang in the distance, signaling the end of the day.
Mira stood first, brushing off her jeans. "Come on, I want you to meet Michael today. He's waiting by the lockers."
Jace's heart skipped—a mix of excitement and something heavier. She forced a smile. "Okay."
They walked through the crowded hallway side by side, but Jace's eyes were fixed on one figure leaning casually against a locker ahead—Michael. He looked effortless, with that easy charm Mira always talked about.
Michael caught sight of them and smiled warmly, a smile that somehow made the air feel thicker.
"Hey, Jace," he said, extending a hand that was steady and confident.
Jace shook it, trying to steady her voice. "Hey."
Mira squeezed her arm. "See? I told you he's great."
But as Jace met Michael's eyes, something inside her tightened, and she knew nothing would be the same again.
The hallway around them blurred, voices and footsteps fading into a dull hum. Michael's smile held a strange warmth that felt both inviting and dangerous, like the calm before a storm. For a brief moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis, and Jace's heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
She wanted to look away, to tell herself this was nothing—just a friendly greeting between friends. But the way his gaze lingered, soft and curious, stirred something deep inside her. A whisper of longing she had tried to bury.
Mira's laughter broke through the haze, a reminder of the life Jace was supposed to protect. The friendship they had built, the loyalty she owed her best friend. And yet, beneath it all, a secret flickered—one that threatened to unravel everything.
Jace swallowed hard, gripping the strap of her bag like an anchor. If this was the beginning of a storm, she had no idea if she was ready to face what came next.
The bell had rung, but neither Mira nor Michael seemed eager to leave. Instead, the three of them lingered in the noisy hallway, surrounded by the buzz of students rushing to their next classes. Mira chatted easily with Michael, her hand resting lightly on his arm, while Jace stood just a step behind, trying to keep her smile steady.
"Jace, you have to come to the game this Friday," Mira said, eyes shining. "Michael's playing, and it would mean so much if you were there."
Jace nodded, her throat suddenly dry. "Yeah, I'll come."
Michael glanced at her, a subtle spark of interest in his eyes that made Jace's stomach twist. "Looking forward to it," he said softly.
Mira smiled, completely unaware of the storm brewing just beneath the surface. "We'll have fun. Promise."
Jace forced herself to smile back, but inside, a knot tightened. She wanted to tell Mira everything—how confusing it was, how Michael's presence stirred feelings she never expected. But the words stuck in her throat.
Instead, she took a breath, pushed down the growing ache, and followed Mira and Michael as they walked toward the lockers, her mind racing.
Because now, it wasn't just about being the quiet best friend anymore. It was about something much more complicated — something that could change everything.
The crowd around them swirled in a blur as Jace trailed behind Mira and Michael, every step heavier than the last. The laughter and chatter felt distant, like echoes from a world she was no longer quite part of.
Why does it feel like my heart's breaking and blooming at the same time? she wondered, the thought both thrilling and terrifying.
Michael's easy smile and casual charm weren't just things Mira loved—they were magnetic. Every glance he cast Jace's way, every subtle nod, sent ripples through her that she wasn't ready to face.
This isn't just a crush. It's something else. Something deeper.
She swallowed hard, fighting the guilt that clawed at her chest. Mira had been her closest friend for years, her constant through every high and low. To want Michael—her boyfriend—felt like a betrayal written in the stars.
But I can't control how I feel.
Jace's fingers clenched the strap of her bag, nails digging into her palm. She wanted to turn around, to run back to the safety of their friendship, but curiosity—maybe something darker—held her rooted in place.
"Jace?" Mira's voice pulled her back. "You okay?"
Jace forced a smile, but inside, the storm raged on. "Yeah. Just tired."
Michael's eyes lingered on her again, warmer this time, and for a moment, Jace imagined a different future—a future where things weren't so complicated.
But reality slammed back in. She was the best friend. He was the boyfriend. And love, she realized with aching clarity, was about to become the most dangerous game she'd ever play.
The days that followed felt heavy, like walking through a fog that only thickened when Michael was near. Jace found herself drifting to the edges of conversations, watching Mira laugh at Michael's jokes, the way her eyes sparkled when he looked at her.
It wasn't jealousy—not exactly. It was something quieter, deeper. A restless ache she couldn't name.
She told herself she was happy for Mira. She had to be. They'd been best friends forever.
But when Michael glanced her way, even briefly, Jace's breath caught, and the world seemed to shift just slightly off balance.
At night, she lay awake, replaying every moment they'd shared, every look and smile that didn't belong to her. She wondered if Michael even noticed her, or if she was invisible beneath the weight of their perfect friendship.
In school hallways, Jace caught herself stepping aside to let them pass, feeling like an outsider watching the story unfold.
Her heart whispered secrets she refused to speak aloud, secrets that tasted like both hope and danger.
And she realized—some loves weren't meant to be easy.
The school halls buzzed with noise—lockers slamming, laughter echoing, friends calling out greetings—but for Jace, it all felt distant, like she was watching from behind a glass wall.
She walked the familiar path between classes, trying to lose herself in the crowd. But every time she caught sight of Mira and Michael together, something inside her tightened.
They moved like a pair perfectly in sync—sharing jokes, brushing hands casually, their smiles easy and bright.
Just then, a voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Hey, Jace! Waiting for a chance to say hi, huh?"
She turned to see Alex—a classmate from their grade, known for his sharp wit and easy charm—grinning as he leaned against the lockers nearby. His dark eyes flicked toward Mira and Michael, then back to her.
"Don't look so serious," Alex teased. "You're way too quiet these days. Everything alright?"
Jace forced a smile, grateful for the distraction but unsure how much to reveal. "Yeah, just… busy."
Alex's grin softened. "If you ever want to talk or just hang out, you know where to find me."
Before she could answer, Mira's voice called out from across the hall. "Jace! Lunch is starting!"
Jace nodded, slipping her phone back into her pocket. Alex gave a small wave and disappeared into the crowd.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Mira: "Can't wait to see you at the game! Michael's gonna love having you there."
Jace stared at the screen, a mix of excitement and dread swirling inside her. The game was just days away.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready to face what waited on the other side.